Meet Alessandra Givens | Jewelry Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alessandra Givens and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alessandra, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Alegria Handmade was born from a long-time passion of mine. It all started in Rio de Janeiro – Brazil, when I was in the seventh grade, and a school friend and I would create handmade jewelry to sell to our friends. Being born into a family of “gypsies,” we moved around a lot, and I was exposed to many different cultures and traditions that inspired me. The jewelry I make has always been that one place where I poured all of my experiences and creative vision. In some moments of my life, I had to put this passion aside to give room to others, such as traveling and studying Ayurveda. These new experiences brought me so much inspiration that in 2018 I decided to express them in the best way I knew, and Alegria Handmade was born.

Alegria means joy in Portuguese, and this represents the brand’s mission. Every piece is a statement by itself, and the flexible and easy-to-wear pieces are made to fit any lifestyle.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My passion is to create exclusive handmade jewelry that instills confidence, embraces unique personalities, and is fun and easy to wear. My inspiration comes from traveling the world and being exposed to different cultures and traditions. In my travels, I also find many of the unique materials used to create each Alegria Handmade piece. All of the materials are handpicked, and I carefully select ethically sourced materials that often help support small villages and communities. I also deeply believe in the healing power of natural stones. When creating Alegria’s pieces, I try to create combinations that will both make a statement and bring healing properties.

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.
I love spending time in nature; luckily, we are blessed with Florida’s natural beauties. When I have family and friends visiting, I like to take them to the beach or go paddle-boarding or kayaking in the canals in Fort Lauderdale. I would also take them to South Pointe Park in Miami for a picnic or a walk along the shoreline and enjoy the beautiful views. There are so many excellent restaurants in Miami that it is hard to pick one, but my favorite is a small, local restaurant called My Ceviche. They have fresh and delicious combinations of Ceviche and poke bowls.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shoutout goes to all my friends, coworkers, and family who, from day one, believed in my vision and encouraged me to bring Alegria Handmade to life. They help me to stay inspired and nurture my creative process. A special shoutout goes to my mother, who has always been a great source of inspiration in my life. My mother has an excellent taste for clothes and accessories, and watching her has helped spark my passion for accessories and jewelry. Even today, she likes to be involved in the creation process and gives great ideas for new pieces and different materials.

Website: https://www.alegriahandmade.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alegriahandmade/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alegriahandmade