Jewelry that tells a story by a Black woman
- Emi La
- Oct 8
- 4 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
When Beauty Meets Legacy: A Fashion Lover’s Treasure Find
I met Ronea at the One of a Kind Spring Show in Chicago. A vibrant, joyful collision of artists, food, music, and even nuns selling cookies. Held at the iconic Merchandise Mart, the show draws creators from across the U.S. and Canada. It’s part sensory overload and part creative heaven. For me and my sister, it’s become our annual accessories treasure hunt.
Every year, we walk in saying we’ll “just browse,” but every year, we walk out broke and thrilled, with bags full of art, textiles, and accessories we absolutely don’t regret buying! That’s the kind of show it is: you find things you didn’t know you were missing.
Amid the buzz and motion, one booth made us stop in our tracks. There she was, Ronea. Calm, centered, and grounded in her booth, like she was holding the quiet in her hands. Her display was a magnet: bold curves and subtle palettes that felt like they were whispering stories across the shelves. My sister spotted it first (she has a sixth sense for show-stopping pieces), and we made a beeline straight for her booth.
We found a table full of handcrafted statement jewelry by a Black artist, each piece a small work of art with soul.
The Bruce Collection: Memory in Motion
We were immediately drawn to the Bruce collection. Fluid and bold. The kind of jewelry that feels like it lived a life before it met you. We picked them up, tried them on, and were delighted by how feather light they were.
Clearly, Ronea doesn’t believe in “beauty is pain”. And I love that!
She helped me choose my perfect color: olive green. My sister (never one to hold back) got the same pair in olive, beige, and black. I took pictures with my sister’s pairs below.
We walked away feeling like we’d found a secret. A treasure not just of style, but of connection.
Jewelry that tells a story by a Black woman
There’s something special about wearing jewelry that tells a story by a black woman. Ronea works with premium polymer clay, molding and shaping each piece by hand. Her work is for women who travel with heart, dress with purpose, and collect mementos.
Her creations are wearable reminders of who we are and where we’ve been.
What struck me even more than her artistry was her energy. In that shared space, woman to woman, we recognized each other. That quiet moment of, “I see you.” That’s what Ronea brings to every pair she makes.
A souvenir worth wearing
If you're someone who loves fashion and wants more than just "what's trending", if you want jewelry that means something, then support artisan creators. Choose pieces that are made with love, not mass produced. Because when you buy handmade,
You support a real person.
You grow your collection with intention.
You carry someone else’s art across borders. You become part of their journey and can proudly say you know the artist behind the art.
And in return? Your jewelry collection becomes a living archive: full of stories and style that speaks.
Isn’t it wonderful?!
From left to right, the colors I'm wearing are black, olive green, and beige.
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 you’d 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 flare 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 you'd love to see her 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!"
Discover Beaded Seed by Ronea
You can find Ronea's creations on Instagram at @beadedseedbyronea. She shares where she’ll be popping up at art markets and gives you a peek behind the scenes of her design process. Follow her. Visit BeadedSeed.com. Support Black women artists' jewelry.
If you’re lucky enough to meet her in person, don’t be surprised if you walk away with more than earrings. You might leave with a little more belief, in creativity, in connection, and in the quiet beauty of women supporting women.
Let's talk
Stop being a bystander! Share with me in the comments:
How’s your jewelry collection growing?
What’s the most meaningful piece you’ve found on your travels?
Is it the first time you've heard of Beaded Seed by Ronea?
Side note and unrelated: my sister did the bantu knots for me for the first time. She does it all the time for herself and I love that look. I was skeptical at first since my head is so small but I was so thrilled! She did it for me at the right time as I was writing this post and I wanted to find the best way to display the earrings. I loved the final result. Thank you, sis!
Anyway, subscribe to Voyage à nue for more fashion-forward finds with soul.
FIN
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