Beaded Seed by Ronea- A Fashion Lover’s Treasure Find
Updated: 22 hours ago
I want to tell you about my little discovery in Chicago: earrings from Beaded Seed by Ronea.
Her earrings caught my eyes from a distance. My sister and I wandered over, started chatting with her, and immediately liked her easy, down-to-earth vibe. One conversation later, we somehow walked away with four pairs of earrings between us... as one does.
So, how did that happen? Here we go.
I met Ronea at the One-of-a-Kind Spring Show in Chicago. I was there with my sister doing what we do best: “oh, just looking.”
If you’ve never been, the One-of-a-Kind show takes over the Merchandise Mart and brings together artists, designers, makers, food vendors, musicians, and just about every kind of creative you can imagine. Even nuns selling cookies.
For my sister and me, it has become an annual treasure hunt.
Every year we walk in telling ourselves we’re only going to look. Every year, we leave with bagssssss. Art, dresses, jewelry, things we absolutely don’t need more of but are very happy to bring home.
And then we found Ronea.
Her booth stopped us immediately. The jewelry was bod without being loud, with fluid shapes and a beautiful, natural color palette.
We made our way over. Her table was filled with statement earrings made by her, a black artist who creates each piece by hand.
We were immediately drawn to the Bruce collection.
From left to right, the colors I'm wearing are black, olive-green, and beige.
Unrelated: my sister did my bantu knots for me for the first time.
She does them all the time herself, and I’ve always loved that look on her. I was skeptical about how they would work on me because my head is so small, but I was so absolutely nailed it!
The timing was perfect. She did it for me at the right time as I was writing this note, and I wanted to find the best way to display the earrings.
I loved the result. Thank you, sis!
The earrings have that rare quality where they look substantial but feel incredibly light once you put them on.
I was sold1
Ronea doesn’t believe in “beauty is pain.” And I love that!
She helped me choose the right pair because I was having a hard time deciding on which color suits me best. I got the olive-green pair. My sister, being fully herself, bought same pair in olive, beige, and black.
What I liked most was how easy they felt to wear. They made a statement without taking over the outfit. They are easy to dress up and down, making your casual wear still elevated.
There’s something particularly satisfying about discovering a designer in person, learning about their process, and then taking a piece of their work home.
And because you meet the person behind the work, the purchase feels different from adding another accessory to your collection.
Ronea works with premium polymer clay, molding and shaping each piece by hand. Her collections are bold, graphic, wearable, with enough personality to make you feel special without having to wear a fancy outfit and heels.
Beaded Seed - A Souvenir Worth Wearing
You know who made it.
You know where you found it.
And the next time you wear it, you have story to go with it.
That, to me, is one of the best parts of finding jewelry while traveling or exploring a new city: the piece becomes a souvenir, but a much better one than something picked up at an airport gift shop.
My jewelry collection has become less about having more and more about finding pieces I actually remember.
And sometimes I remember the outfit I wore when I first tried them on. That makes getting dressed a lot more fun!
Other earrings from her store:
Get to Know the Artist
I asked her three questions so you can also get to know her. Below is what she had to say.
What influencer, model, photographer, designer, or stylist would you love to work with?
“I would love to work with Tyra Banks. I've loved her since America's Next Top Model and always thought she was the epitome of beauty. I was in love with her confidence and her struggles in finding that love for herself. She's one of the GOATs and hope to meet her one day.”
What’s your favorite season for your personal styling and why?
“My favorite season overall is fall, so it's definitely my favorite season for designs. I think most of my designs are more for the summer, but I create them in a way that they can be worn whenever and wherever. Personally, I love a good get-up-and-go look but with flair, so I tend to pair my jewelry with some good boots and jeans. Throw on a cute trench or jacket with a pair of my pieces, and I'm good to go.”
What city would you love to see your work shine in?
"I would love to see my accessories take over Chicago. It's where I was born and raised, and seeing my statement jewelry by a Black artist shine in a city that birthed me would be next level. It's an achievement I'm working toward and can't wait to be there!"
If you want to see what Ronea is making next, follow her at @beadedseedbyronea. She shares her upcoming markets, new pieces, and glimpses of her design process.
You can also visit BeadedSeed.com to explore her work.
And if you happen to see her at an art market or design show, ask her about the collection. You might leave with a few pairs.
I won’t judge.
I'm curious about your jewelry collection
What’s the most meaningful piece you’ve found on your travels?
Is this the first time you've heard of Beaded Seed by Ronea?
Share with me.
I love bringing you along for the things I discover along the way with you. You're invited into the Voyage à nue Lounge. There are plenty more travel notes, style finds, and stories waiting for you.
Until the next find,
Emi
© 2026 | Emi Lalanne. All Rights Reserved.
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