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

Hi Elia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
House of Onde is driven by a combination of personal aspirations and a deep connection to the ocean. The desire to be my own boss motivated me to step into the world of entrepreneurship, seeking the freedom to shape a creative path and fostering personal growth. Creativity and passion played a pivotal role in this journey. A profound love for crafting, ignited by the joy of beachcombing and discovering treasures like shells and shark teeth, became the driving force behind my creative endeavors. It isn’t just about running a business; it’s about crafting a unique identity and purpose. My goal is not just to create jewelry but to craft pieces that tell stories and hold sentimental value, creating a profound connection with customers on a deeply personal level.

I grew up in a very creative household. My mom went to art school and she was always having my brothers and I doing creative things. She owned a jewelry store and an art gallery here in South Florida when I was younger and I still remember going into her store and helping her with little tasks like stringing beads and tagging items. Always being around an environment like this I think I knew from a very young age I wanted to do something in the creative world on my own as well. My business started off a lot smaller, without much thought of expansion behind it. As I went to more events and saw how liked and wanted my jewelry was, it lit a fire in me. I rebranded my business into something more fitting to me, and ran with it. I quit my full time job and pursued my dream of owning my own jewelry business. I still have more goals on expansions within my own business that I would love to pursue one day. I have learned to take things one day at a time but to always dream big!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business and brand are a big part of my life and lifestyle! My vision behind my brand is one of a kind, handmade and locally sourced gems. I do all my own marketing on social platforms with help from friends and local photographers. My friends and I are always on the beach looking for sea glass, shark teeth and shells while getting in a little daily walk or sunshine! My ideas come to me very randomly but when I get them, I run with them. I do work long hours because everything is carefully crafted by hand, but I truly love what I do. I do think the most pivotal factor in the success of my business and brand is my trust in the process, through both the highs and lows. Like I previously mentioned, taking a leap of faith by leaving my full-time job was a bold move, but it’s allowed me to pour everything into what I’m truly passionate about.

Throughout the challenges I’ve faced in the past couple of years, jewelry has been my passion that has helped me push forward.  wholeheartedly love what I do, and the support from the people around me has been invaluable.  I am deeply thankful for their unwavering support and uplifting presence— I couldn’t ask for better people to be surrounded by. I believe my passion shines through in my work, evident in my attention to detail and the unique vision that has attracted a special community of customers. It’s the genuine love for what I do that not only defines my work but also creates a connection with those who appreciate the genuinity  and dedication I bring to every piece I make. Some days or weeks flow more smoothly than others, but my genuine love for what I do keeps me motivated. Whether it’s a walk on the beach with friends, searching for shells and shark teeth, or working on new ideas for a collection, everything seamlessly integrates into my daily routine. Loving what I do makes taking days off challenging, but I’ve learned that allowing myself breaks from the strict schedule actually helps re-spark my creativity and vision. Finding a balance between personal life, self-care, and work is incredibly important, and I can’t stress that enough. Sometimes, I need that reminder myself. Can’t wait to see what the New Year holds and to share more beautifully handcrafted gems with all of you guys!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting the area the first thing I would do is take her to Juno beach! On our way I would stop at Golden Juicery, it is my favorite local smoothie and juice bar that my friend owns. We could get smoothies and wraps to-go for the day, they are truly the best around. For dinner I would take her to hog snappers it is one of my favorite places to get sushi and margaritas! Another thing I would take her to do is walk around Grandview market they have one of the cutest stores inside (Gypsy Life Surf Shop) and so many different food options to choose from! Most weeks there are a ton of markets and green markets going on all the way from Boca to Stuart area and those are always fun to see all the other local artists with so many different things! Some other local stores I love and would want to show her are Nomad Surf shop and Locals Surf shop, so many cute things to choose from!

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?
I would love to thank ALL of my friends, family and just the overall community for believing in me, always helping me and forever uplifting me!

Website: www.houseofonde.com

Instagram: houseofonde

Image Credits
Justin Fornes Meredith Wallace

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.