Art Works: Lauren Gill

Words: Lauren Gill
Thursday 19 October 2017
reading time: min, words

Firenza

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I run a jewellery business called Firenza, selling handmade, uniquely wrapped crystals. I’ve always loved crystals; when I was younger, my mum would put a little rose quartz in the pocket of my school blazer every day. Rose quartz is a crystal that’s said to emit a strong vibration of unconditional love, warmth and emotional healing, and I thought that was kind of beautiful, coming from my mum.

My memories of crystals making me feel safe and loved were so strong, and I wanted to turn that into something more tangible. Jewellery seemed like a really good fit. I taught myself how to wrap the crystals, and people started saying they wanted to buy them. Firenza started as a hobby while I was studying for my degree, but it snowballed into a successful business, and now I ship stuff all over the world, with all my materials being locally sourced.

I take orders for my work through my Instagram account and by email, which means I’m able to connect personally with all my customers and learn about their stories. It’s amazing to see Instagram posts about where my crystals end up, and it feels good to see people happy; it’s the most important part of the business for me.

Crystals all have different purposes, and I use my Instagram to explain what each one means so people are able to choose the right crystal for them. Each one takes a different amount of time to complete because they all require a unique touch, and every crystal comes with a handwritten note describing its properties. The entire process is therapeutic; from sourcing and wrapping the crystals, to my customers wearing and enjoying them.

The biggest turning point for Firenza was when Tokio Myers bought one of my crystal necklaces and wore it on Britain’s Got Talent, which he went on to win. He’s been really vocal with his support for my crystals, and has been a really good friend to the business. Grace and Ali, Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists, also bought my crystals, and the support has really helped my business take off.

My future vision for the business is to produce limited-edition collections, extend my range, and hopefully collaborate with people I find inspirational, like Tokio Myers. I’m currently building a website, which I really need because I’m getting so many orders.

@iamfirenza
[email protected]

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