What we're craving now: Fitness-inspired jewelry!

As a fitness enthusiast, I am proud of my accomplishments in the gym - whether getting in one more push-up or moving up to a heavier kettle bell.  So when I heard about Fashletics, a fitness-inspired fashion and accessory company that empowers you to get to the next level, I got very excited!

The handmade charms on each necklace, bracelet, and earring show either a fitness-related symbol of strength, like a dumbbell or weightplate and/or an inspirational quote that can be applied to life in and out of the gym like "weakness is a choice" and "I choose strength".  I had a chance to chat with the founder, Sarah Wilson, to hear what inspires her and how she stays fit!

"It's a grind [relating jewelry design to training] but there is also an adrenaline rush that occurs where all of the sudden I forget that I'm 'doing work'"

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One on one with the Fashletics founder, Sarah Wilson:

Ketanga:  What inspired you to create this inspirational line?

Sarah:  Art imitates life. The more passionate I became about health and fitness, the more it crept its way into my designs. Designing jewelry, and design in general, has always been my way of communicating and expressing the things that are most important to me. 

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Ketanga:  Which quote from your designs is the most meaningful for you?

Sarah:  "patience, I know what I will become" is my favorite quote. It was one of the first charms that I made and very significant at the time. I was starting out in the triathlon/duathlon world and working my way to qualifying for a World Championship race. Needless to say, this was not a fast process and there were many struggles. It was important to stay focused on the long term goal and stay positive regardless. 

I think people (myself included) tend to put too much weight on one bad day or race or training session and all the sudden we feel like this one failure defines us. It doesn't. It's part of the process and we need to believe in ourselves, and have patience with ourselves on the bad days as much as the good. 

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Ketanga:  What kind of process (mentally and physically) does it take to create a new piece?

Sarah:  I design and create a prototype of each piece by hand in my Miami studio. I have been working as a Metalsmith/jewelry designer for over 10 years. I use different techniques depending on the design, but I always tend to lean towards techniques that lend themselves to a more rough and rugged look. I think it captures the spirit of the hard work, grit and relentless dedication it takes to build a strong and fit body.  Once the original prototype is created, there is a lengthy process that follows in order to get the piece into production. 

I love everything about the design process. It is challenging, but I love it so much that I hardly ever recognize the difficulty. In a lot of ways it's similar to how I feel when I train- It's a grind but there is also an adrenaline rush that occurs where all of the sudden I forget that I'm "doing work" and am only thinking about the end result and the sense of accomplishment I will feel when I am finished. Designing and training are incredibly rewarding because I feel like I am building something out of nothing - whether it is muscle or metal, it is easy to see that the result is a direct reflection of the effort put in. 

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Ketanga:  What do you do when you aren't making jewelry?... You obviously work out!

Sarah:  I train at a CrossFit gym in North Miami called Athlete E.G.O. It is conveniently located right between my studio and a Whole Foods. It's also about a 10 minute drive from my house and my son's school. That pretty much sums up my life at the moment - a balancing act of being a mom, running a business, and training. I used to be a lot more competitive when it came to CrossFit and endurance racing. I put a ridiculous amount of time into it - and I loved every second. I still get to the gym regularly, but this phase of my life is more about my family and my business and less about competing.  I know I will get into again at some point, it's part of who I am. 

Check out Sarah's inspirational designs at Fashletics.com and on Facebook!

Written by Stacy