EMERGING DESIGNER

Margaret Lajara

IN THIS FEATURE: Meet Margaret Fashion Focus

pressions by Margaret Lajara is an up and coming earring and accessories line based in New York City. Xpressions designs are on trend, made to order and affordable. Enjoy beautiful, unique, handmade designs without breaking the bank. Are you ready to make an impression?

Margaret Lajara, a jewelry designer born in New York City from Dominican parents discovered a love for fashion during her teen years. She loved everything from clothes to accessories and would sketch every idea that popped into her head. Although Margaret adored clothes, her passion was jewelry. And at the young age of 14, Margaret knew that she was going to one day become a jewelry designer.

After completing High School, Margaret decided to move to New York to pursue a career in fashion. She enrolled at Berkeley College in New York and chose a major in Fashion Marketing and Management. While in college, she excelled in her classes, which earned her an Achievement Award. She graduated Cum Laude and received a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Marketing and Management.

Shortly after college, Margaret decided that her future would definitely involve designing and creating jewelry for a living. She studied the art of jewelry making and started designing. Her first creation was a pair of chandelier earrings made from wire. She displayed the earrings to her family and friends in hopes of getting positive feedback. Margaret path was set: her family and friends loved the earrings.

She decided to start selling her jewelry on line and at jewelry party. It was a total disaster! Even though Margaret loved the art and the creative process, she was not prepared to deal with the business side of her new venture. She was doing a lot at the same time, bracelets, necklaces and earrings, and was not focus enough for it to be a success. Devastated with the outcome, she decided to call it quits. Margaret did not make another piece of jewelry for two years. During those two years, her life changed drastically. She got engaged, re-entered the fashion industry, grew as a person, but something was missing. She kept having a feeling inside that kept pushing her toward making jewelry again. She truly believes that feeling was God pushing her toward realizing her purpose and calling in life. After ignoring the feeling for quite a while, she decided to give it another try, but this time things were changing! She decided to focus on what she does best, earrings! She asked the right people for help, and with their help developed a killer plan to realizing her dream and it’s been a success!

Margaret not only has a her line which she sells on Etsy, she also designs exclusive lines for boutiques and private labels. This is her time! and she’s truly grateful to God for her previous failure because it helped her see what she really loves to do, and it helped her fixed what needed to be fixed and develop a great business.