I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. The little guys who are working so hard to compete with mainstream fashion labels to earn your respect and your own hard-earned dollars. These designers often do so while juggling 9-5 jobs, college, kids and more. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you a new, ongoing segment I call "Indie Designer Interviews". First up is Nicole of Yen Jewelry.

Tell me a little about yourself and your company. An avid shopper, artist and lover of fashion, I design and handcraft jewelry using finer metals and gem-grade semiprecious stones. My line, Yen Jewelry, consists of necklaces, earrings, bracelets and limited release pieces. My work has been featured by various media, including DailyCandy and Lucky Magazine, to name a couple.






How did you get started as a designer? I started making jewelry as something new to try and because I never could find anything on the market that I liked. While my first attempts were nothing I would wear, let alone show to others, I quickly got better and wasn't embarrassed to wear what I was making. Soon after, requests for orders were coming my way and Yen Jewelry officially launched in April 2006.

What inspires your work? Many of my current pieces are inspired by my love of the elaborate costuming found in Bollywood films. I also have a small collection of necklaces with pendants of pierced silver leaves that were inspired by some leaves I found in a box of baby spinach. I tend to find inspiration when I am not looking for it.

Who are your favorite designers? Some favorite jewelry designers include Anthony Nak, Demitasse and Anna Ruth Henriques.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers? While keeping on the pulse of current trends is helpful, don't rely on that too much when making design decisions. Also know that having a business isn't as simple as "if you build it, they will come." It requires a lot of hard work, money and diligence.

To find out more about Nicole and shop for her work, visit Yen Jewelry.