ABOUT THE COMPANY & DESIGNER

Michelle Carter was born in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1984. Growing up, Michelle was extremely creative, constantly expressing herself through painting and drawing. As she grew older, however, she began to pursue academics rigorously, with plans to work in film production. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in three years with a degree in communication studies. After working for various production companies in Los Angeles, Michelle decided it was time to pursue a career that called on her creative roots.

The idea behind MIJAJewelry (pronounced Mee-Jah) was conceived in London during the fall of 2006, while Michelle was visiting her sister, Jani, and Jani’s twin daughters. Michelle crafted bracelets for her nieces and Jani was so enamored with the delicate designs, she encouraged Michelle to pursue her talent. Thus, MIJA Jewelry—a combination of Michelle and Jani’s names—began as a dedication to a loving sister.

While the company originated with simple, sophisticated children’s jewelry, the line now focuses largely on women’s collections. Michelle finds inspiration from any number of things in the world around her, such as a carving on a museum wall, a river in Turkey, or even a tattoo on a stranger’s shoulder. As Buddhist philosopher Daisaku Ikeda says, "If we look at the world with a love of life, the world will reveal its beauty to us."

MIJA is a fine jewelry line founded on the idea of affordable luxury. The collection is created using the finest sterling silver and 18k gold plating with semi-precious and precious gemstones. The pieces are cast from original hand-carved wax sculptures and the gemstones are individually set by hand.

The marriage of these elements contributes to the exquisitely crafted pieces that make MIJA Jewelry a collection that is wearable, timeless, and classically chic.