Meet Gia Adams Wheeler | Sustainability & Design Enthusiast | Founder of Adamo1987

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gia Adams Wheeler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gia, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

Two years before my sister Riki and I set out to create our homeware label, our world was in a pandemic. I noticed the impact that widespread interruption was having on small businesses and our environment.

Quarantines were reshaping consumer habits towards online shopping convenience and mass produced prices. As entire shopping lists to distant fulfillment centers were purchased in just a few clicks, it seemed like production was at a halt for local skilled tradesmen and women. It was a case of missed supply and demand. I thought, if I could introduce a digital convenience factor to the skilled trades industry and promote artisanal product benefits with today’s shoppers, I could help navigate the market to better meet consumer needs, limit waste, and support local.

My sister and I began asking friends and followers to use their quarantine time to reflect on their living space. Looking back I found an early post on Instagram:
“Need to renovate a room or even upgrade a piece of furniture? Do you know of any #smallbusinesses by you that could bring your vision to life? Why not spend 15 minutes online to track them down? Craftsmen (and women) from various industries have a rocky road ahead. Help preserve generations of artistry and technique by involving a local expert in your next home project. You reaching out and expressing interest in future business will keep your community motivated through these times. You’ll be surprised how rewarding and easy it is to collaborate and create something truly unique.”

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Riki and I are the sister designer duo of Miami-based homeware label, Adamo1987. It’s a family business. In fact, our brand’s name pays tribute to our parents who married and launched their design businesses in 1987.

In January, we set out to create a brand built for a new consumer. We believe your space should share your values— meaningful origins, ethical sourcing, and exceptional product. This drives us to create timeless products while harnessing the power to create social change.

As the daughters of a botanical artist and a stone fabricator, we were raised to deeply appreciate heritage crafts and quality materials. Riki lives in Paris and sources vintage while I work with local artists and skilled trade experts to produce our revived vintage and handmade collections.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Miami has something for everyone and with it being less than three hours by plane from my hometown Boston, I have friends (and even friends of friends of friends) texting for last minute trip recommendations. Many visiting New Englanders are only familiar with South Beach so I make a point to share what I love about each of Miami’s different neighborhoods.

First off, put on your walking shoes and explore the residential jungles of Coconut Grove. Reward yourself for the extra vacation steps with a natural wine and seasonal dish from Krüs Kitchen. If it’s a Sunday, be sure to check out the Vizcaya Museum Village Farmer’s Market where Adamo1987 will be vending!
The best events take place at Center For Subtropical Affairs— including Little River Flea where you can find a variety of local handmade and vintage souvenirs. If it’s happy hour, you have to head downtown for Over Under bar. Try the Mezcal cocktails! By night, you’ll be ready to dance so check out the event calendar for Miami based entertainment group, Sarah Tonin. Always a blast!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

Before I share my shoutout, I have a few very special people to thank for getting me to where I am today with Adamo1987— my sister Riki, mother Lisa, father Rick, and husband Tim. They encourage and fuel the mission to build this business everyday.

This series is about acknowledging others so I thought back and listed anyone who influenced me and contributed to my growth and development. In the process of making that list I thought about why I chose each person. It lead me to a time in my life when my husband and I left our professional and personal circles in Boston and moved to Miami— I was overcome with excitement and an intense fear of failure. Enter James Altucher, an American hedge-fund manager, author, podcaster and entrepreneur. His book “Reinvent Yourself” guided me through countless examples of others who have successfully reinvented themselves and created their reason for being. It reinforces the importance of learning new skills, genuinely helping others, and embracing change. I slowly built more positive habits and pushed myself to create.

Website: https://adamo1987.com

Instagram: @shopadamo1987

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giaadamswheeler/

Twitter: @shopadamo1987

Facebook: @Adamo1987

Image Credits
Emma del Rey Photography