It’s no surprise how much I love food and fashion. You can imagine my excitement then when I stumbled across jewelry made from actual food. Maine-based jewelry designer Sharon Herrick of Illuminated Me sets spices such as black sesame, chocolate, cumin, mustard seed, poppyseed, and saffron into pendants, earrings, and rings to create timeless wearable art. Her newest collection, Silk Road Spice draws inspiration from the historical land routes connecting East Asia and Southeast Asia with South Asia, Persia, the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa, and Southern Europe that was responsible for the technological and cultural exchange that shaped the modern world. Every piece in her collection comes with a snapshot description of the spice’s history, spiritual and medicinal characteristics, and culinary uses.
What made me especially drawn to Sharon’s work is the intention she places behind every jewelry piece she makes. Each piece is designed as a personal homage to the histories, architectures, traditions, and cultures of the global community. Even more, the purpose of her jewelry is to make the person wearing it feel elevated, empowered, and adored.
For instance, according to her website, Red chili peppers have a long history of being used to drive away negative forces, providing protective powers, and promoting good luck. I say this all the time to clients and I’ll remind you now: what you wear can have an incredible impact on your mood and how you move within the world. Personally, I’ll reach for the Red Chili Pepper Simple Circle Necklace and ring when I not only want to elevate my outfit (and neckline) but also so that I feel supported on a deeper metaphysical level.
When and why did you start Illuminated Me?
I started the company in 2014 as a way to release my creative aspirations while working full time and having a family. I transitioned from my career in public health by selling jewelry through my website and attending wholesale and retail shows until early 2020. Now, we only sell online and to a handful of stores around the country. We also collaborate with Anthony Manfredonia, a luxury fashion designer in NY as well as creating exclusive collections with Venn and Maker in Portland, ME. From sourcing to distribution, we work with women and family-owned small businesses in the U.S. We also do what we can to provide support to the immigrant and refugee communities living in the Portland area.
What was the inspiration behind the Silk Road collection?
I love food! One day I saw the watercolor images of spices on the back of a Cook’s Illustrated magazine. Since cardamom is my most favorite spice, I thought, how cool would it be to dip that in 18K gold, add a diamond and voila!. That was 2017 and the economy was a little too shaky to implement that idea. Fast forward to 2018 when we discovered resin. Embedding selected spices in pendants is a simple and visually stunning way to illuminate spices — and more affordable than working with gold! We named our collection, Silk Road Spice in honor of the Silk Road that brought together culture, religion, technology, food and discovery.
What advice do you have for other women looking to follow their entrepreneurial dreams?
Stay curious, ask questions, be okay with not being perfect (which is SUPER hard). Take every opportunity to talk with people within or related to your field. Also, connecting with people outside your field is just as important, because it can inform how you may innovate and possibly collaborate. Read professional/trade “journals”. Take classes. If you have hobbies, pursue them. Make time for friends and family because they will be there for you during the highs and lows.
Take risks, but also be smart. Having mentors in the small business community in Maine has helped me thrive. For example: CEI Women’s Business Center, SCORE, SBDC, New Ventures for Women.
Be humble and at the same time own your crown! When your crown falls off, call your support network and they will help you put it back on.
How do you stay inspired?
I look at the sky, really, I do. And, the film The Powers of Ten by Charles and Ray Eames keeps me motivated. This 9-minute documentary demonstrates how we are connected with the unseen parts of the human experience to what we see in daily life. I sometimes play it in the middle of the day to recharge.
I look and read a lot about art, architecture, and design. I also read books that have nothing to do with my work (i.e. historical fiction and mysteries). I love NYC and read every issue of the New Yorker and the Sunday NY Times. For politics, my go to is history professor Heather Cox Richardson on Facebook. She is one of a handful of people taking up the mantle from my hero: Bill Moyers. In 1982. I was a teenager and I saw Moyers PBS series: Creativity. He interviewed Maya Angelou, walking with her on a visit to her home town of Stamps, AK and reflecting on life. That interview set me on my life course to become a documentary filmmaker, a public health professional, designer, and overall entrepreneur.
What do you hope women take away from wearing your jewelry?
Our mission is Making Change Through Beauty. We hope that women are inspired by the tiny details of our work as well as how we run our business. We put a lot of thought and heart into form and function. Our pieces are lightweight and grounding. We combine visual, tactile and spiritual essence in every piece we make. Our aim is for our jewelry to support women in feeling a sense of presence for their interior life as well as a celebration of their outward expressions of beauty.
Sprinkles are known for dressing up desserts and they equally add a level of sweetness to any outfit. There’s something so uplifting about wearing something that evokes such positivity. I love that the Sprinkles Grand Hoop Necklace can add such a beautiful pop of color to your outfit. Bonus points that the strap is adjustable so you can control where it sits on the neckline.
If you’re anything like me or have a loved one who is a major foodie any piece from the Silk Road Spice Collection would make for an excellent gift this holiday season. You can use the code FASHIONCOOKBOOK for free shipping. Plus if you’re local to Portland delivery is an option.
This post is sponsored by Illuminated Me.
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