Denver is home to some remarkable businesses, many of which are run by female entrepreneurs. We are delighted to share a select few that are making their own unique impact on our community.
Bret Alexandra, Guest House, Director of Design
Bret is a Colorado native born and raised in Denver. Her creative career journeys from modeling to bridal to eventually landing in interior design with Guest House. She has a passion for helping people curate spaces based on how they feel, not what they want it to look like, and strives to make interior design an accessible option for everyone. She genuinely enjoys the opportunity to meet and work with designers of all different experience levels and to share knowledge. On the design side, she loves helping her clients’ spaces come to life by creating an atmosphere they feel safe and at home in.
How she maintains a balanced life: “Boundaries. From a retired 'yes' girl, I learned that the balance of my life often starts with saying no occasionally. I'm an advocate for staying on your grind and working until the sun comes up, but it's only worth something if it's pushing you forward. I think the same goes for personal relationships and hobbies because it's easy to drain yourself, even with things you enjoy, when you're already busy. To me, staying balanced requires listening to myself first. Sometimes that means just getting the work done so I'll feel better, and other times I try to give myself grace to cancel plans or save it for tomorrow without feeling guilty."
Amanda Harper, Ear Kit, Owner
After a rocky beginning in the fashion industry, Amanda Harper started designing jewelry out of her post-college bedroom in her parents' house. What started as a creative outlet became the fashion and design career she always dreamed of. In 2022 she launched her second line, Ear Kit; an innovative system of endlessly interchangeable earrings. She’s excited to grow her community and host some Build Your Own Ear Kit pop-ups in Denver and beyond. She has plans to expand her product line and keep innovating in the jewelry space.
She loves being able to stretch her creativity on a daily basis and says, “Giving life to the ideas in my brain and getting tangible products into people's hand (and ears) never gets old.”
The advice she’d give her younger self: “Don't live *your* life based on the opinions of other people. Keep your head down and make yourself proud.”
Mariele Ivy, Young In The Mountains, Founder & Designer
An artist in training her entire life, Mariele grew up in Montana, the daughter of a boatbuilder. She believes being an artist isn’t just about producing work—it’s the way you live your life. She loves creating and problem-solving in any medium. She established her first studio in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she created work that reminded her of what it was like to be “young in the mountains.” She now calls the Rocky Mountains home again, where she opened her flagship jewelry store in Denver.
How she finds balance: “I find balance by remembering the creative and driven person that got me to where I am today. I was a bit of a workaholic for a long while because I loved what I did so much. I worked so hard for so long, that at this level of success, I do acknowledge I have deserved the right to slow down a little, step away and enjoy life. Cooking creatively for my family helps me feel creative and productive at the same time. I also have a new home studio in the mountains and finding time to get in there and innovate makes me feel a nice balance between the creativity and the business required of me."
Koya Nyangi, Let Me Show You Different, Owner
A cutting-edge stylist who creates aesthetically charged sartorial fashion looks that inspire and motivate you to live life boldly, one outfit at a time, Koya has worked as an editorial stylist, fashion director and fashion writer with local and international publications. She is also an advocate for ushering African fashion to a global audience, with her work as an international representative for African fashion brands and designers.
What she loves about her role: “I am constantly surrounded by fashion, art and culture. This allows me the opportunity to truly express myself through the art of styling, either through photoshoots or as creative director in enhancing the story through fashion. I get to teach others to express themselves in their truest form and remove any self-imposed limitations that may impede their essence. As an international representative for designers based in Africa and an advocate for African creativity, I get to introduce retailers to my beautiful, colorful and amazing culture through the eyes of the designers that bring it to life!”
Special thanks to Origin Hotel Westminster OriginHotel.com/Hotels/Westminster
Ignite Your Aura, who created aura photography experiences using the Aura Camera 6000. IgniteYourAura.com