Living in Boulder means much of our days consist of exploring the outdoors and spending time with family and friends. From annual galas and dinner gatherings to early morning hikes and fitness classes, our lives vary by the season and are made of up everyday moments, big and small.
This variety and uniqueness are what Leela Inspired jewelry highlights. Launched earlier this year, Leela Inspired also hopes to ground and inspire us.
“We aren’t a rough-and-tumble outdoor brand only, nor are we a brand you only wear when you dress up at night. We want to be worn throughout your daily journey,” says Derek Matson, CEO and owner of Leela Inspired.
From smoky quartz to pearl and labradorite, Leela Inspired jewelry is beautifully crafted with custom-made silver and gold findings and real gems and stones that are naturally unique, just like each person.
“The stones aren’t produced in a machine where every stone is the same. They have imperfections, but that’s what makes each piece so unique,” Derek says. “The gold and silver findings simply amplify the natural beauty of the stones.”
Several Leela Inspired necklaces also feature a longer, triangular stone, creating a more dramatic style that boasts an unforgettable and exclusive look.
These designs come from Derek’s wife Chrissy. She started making bracelets and necklaces as a hobby and eventually grew it into a cohesive collection inspired by jewelry from Bali.
For years Derek and Chrissy talked about opening Leela Inspired. At the beginning of 2022, they jumped all-in and launched the Boulder-based online brand.
Chrissy has a graphic design and photography background. When launching Leela Inspired, she taught herself how to make a website and online store while also creating the company’s core and seasonal lines. Having worked at Kendra Scott, the Shane Co., and other women’s apparel and accessory companies and running a consulting firm for small retail businesses, Derek intends to take his experiences and pour them into Leela Inspired.
Determining the ethos and foundation of Leela Inspired was one of the most important parts of building the company, Derek says. After jotting down hundreds of words that meant something to Derek and Chrissy, they came up with three buckets—create, connect and explore. These serve as Leela Inspired’s ethos and pillars. “The goal is to create jewelry that doesn’t just fit within our ethos but enhances it,” Derek says.
The husband-and-wife duo also want Leela Inspired’s jewelry to be playful and ideal for all occasions. That’s where the name Leela comes into play. Leela is a Sanskrit word loosely defined as “play” or “to be playful.”
“The idea of play and being playful is central to our brand,” Derek says. “When you are playing, you are present, you are positive. Play takes many forms, whether that’s hiking with friends, cocktails after work or creating art. So our goal is to have jewelry that A, can be worn in all of those scenarios and B, reminds us of those playful times when we are furthest away from being playful.”
Leela Inspired will launch two seasonal collections each year in addition to its core line and continue offering in-person, custom sizing for customers living in Denver and Boulder at their local design studio. The company also recently released its first solid gold and silver bracelets and necklaces. What’s next? Derek says when the time is right, Leela Inspired will open a brick-and-mortar location.