Just before Christmas I was lucky enough to be invited the launch of a new brand of jewellery - La La Rocks. When I walked into the venue I was greeted by this amazing silver tree with fairy lights and bracelets hanging from it. I was immediately smitten!
What I really loved about the bracelets was the fact that from a distance they looked all girlie and pretty but on closer inspection, each bracelet had either one gold skull in between the beads (funky but subtle) or one black skull (more edgy). The choice of light, dark, coloured, silver or gold beads with a gold or black skull means that the bracelets have a wide appeal from footballers and their wives to younger girls and to more grown up girls - like me!
Now, I should say at this stage, that at the launch I offered to write about the bracelets on StyleGuile - just because I liked them. Subsequently I met with La La Rocks' PR, Faith, on a different matter and she gave me a bracelet to review. Me being me, Miss Naive, asked her how she would like me to return it to her - by post or hand delivered.
Faith looked at me kindly, in the way that you might look at someone when it is their first day at school and they don't know the ropes and she said "No, it's OK, it's for you. You can keep it." So whilst it's true I have received a gift of one of the bracelets, I was going to write about them anyway, just because I liked them and I know how appreciative I am when anyone gives me a helping hand.
La La Rocks is run by 30 year old Carla Hancox. Carla uses semi-precious stones from Birmingham's jewellery quarter to hand make the bracelets to be worn by both men and women. They start at £45 and look fabulous either on their own, or stacked together. I wear mine with all sorts of outfits from a casual jeans look to a dressy look and I love it because it is so versatile.
In only a couple of months Carla has gone from strength to strength with her business and has now achieved the amazing success of being asked to supply Harvey Nichols in both Birmingham and Manchester with a range of the bracelets. How incredible is that in this financial climate? You can't beat a good success story!
Top of the new season wish list is the stunning ‘ultimate gold’ bracelet, made up of nine carat gold beads set off with a funky skull-cut dyed howlite stone.
Carla explains: “The basis of the product has always been to use the
highest quality stones and because they are handmade, each one is unique.
Of her recent success, Carla says “I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the success LaLa Rocks has
enjoyed since it was launched – it has been a non-stop whirl of orders and
meetings. The invitation to meet with Harvey Nichols’ buyers was the icing on
the cake.
Harvey Nichols represents exclusive, chic, luxurious products, and
that’s exactly what I wanted LaLa Rocks to be when I set the brand up last
year. I can’t wait to see the reaction of Harvey Nichols customers to the brand
once they’re in situ. To me, being stocked by the UK’s premium retailer is a
sign that it was all worth it – LaLa has landed!”
Kevin Breese, general manager of Harvey Nichols Birmingham, added: “We
have been so impressed by what Carla has created in such a short space of time.
We can really see her collections appealing to both our male and female
customers.”
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