About two years ago, I had the honor of meeting a warm and engaging woman by the name of Rozonna Hightower. From the moment I saw her, I knew she had a creative vibe. That part of her spoke through her beautiful, bold, and colorful accessories that I later came to learn matched her equally beautiful, bold, and colorful personality.

I also came to learn Ms. Hightower designs jewelry and keychains that are available for purchase at her shop SoWristicated Art on Etsy. Each piece is an expression of beauty and creativity. I purchased the I AM ENOUGH keychains for my niece and nieces-in-love for Christmas, and they love them! I also purchased the Mismatched Ear Art, which I can hardly wait to wear.

I was recently blessed with the opportunity to interview the woman behind this blossoming brand. Check out our conversation below.

Q: What is the story behind “SoWristicated Art?”

A: “Let me first start by thanking you for the opportunity to share a piece of my soul with your readers.  The story behind SoWristicated Art begins with my decision to start my own jewelry business, with my main focus being wrap bracelets. I wanted a name that told you exactly what my product was in one word. After tossing names around with my girlfriends and my son, I still wasn’t settled. I wanted something that rhymes with and sounded like “wrist.” The word wrist had to be in it, and I knew I wanted it to be like art to the wearer. As I was driving down 70 on my way to work, I went through the alphabet. I tried to think of all the words that rhyme with, played off of, and sounded like “wrist.” I then thought of the word sophisticated—”phis” sounds like wrist—So-Wrist-icated. SoWristicated Art—that was it for me.”

Q: What inspired it?

A: “I have been an accessory lover since the 80s. Remember when standing crimp curls were out, shoulder pads, and brooches on shoulder pads—the age of Cyndi Lauper and Madonna? I used to shop at thrift stores for antique jewelry; brass bracelets, multi-chain necklaces, and big earrings. LOL! You wouldn’t dare catch me without my accessories. My hair and my accessories were my things. I would look for accessories before I looked for clothes and shoes. At the beginning of Covid I was furloughed from my part-time job, and prayed for another source to supplement my income. It was one of those IG scrolling days, and I came across one of the people I follow and admired her arm full of bracelets. I wondered if I could find something similar to the bracelets she was wearing. I zoomed in to see if I could tell how they were made. Were they individual stretch bracelets or were they wrap bracelets? I looked on Amazon with hopes to find bracelets like the ones I admired on IG. My wrist is a little larger, so that played in the back of my mind as I searched to no avail.  Then I was like, ‘ummmmm’ I’ll just make my own.’ Then I called a couple of my girlfriends and my daughter-in-law and told them, ‘Hey I’m gonna start my own bracelet business.‘”

Q: Who inspires you?

A: “I draw inspiration from the people I encounter on a daily basis. It could be my pastor, a family member, a friend, or a fellow entrepreneur. And I love me some Iris Apfel! My son said, ‘That’s gonna be you at that age!”‘

Q: What drives you to support and encourage women?

A: “I was taught to watch your words, that your words have life, to speak life, and it became a part of who I am.”

Q: What do you consider to be the biggest challenge within the fashion industry?

A: “Nowadays I believe the biggest challenge is being seen, and your audience finds you. I’ve often heard the term or phrase that everyone has a group of people that are designed for them. And that you are one person away from greatness. Oftentimes, I feel like the market is over-saturated, but you keep hope alive, and you keep pushing with the premise that—’your people will find you.'”

Q: How do you view the term “enough?”

A: “I see the word ‘enough’ as a word of confirmation, a reminder of who and what you are.”

Q: How would you answer the question, “who are you?”

A: “I am passionate, I am sentiment, I am emotion, I am the laughter, I am warm summer nights and cold winter days. I am the sister in the boardroom [trying to make you laugh] and the homegirl on the couch. I am the listening ear and the keeper of secrets. I am a woman, still yet becoming.”

Q: What advice would you give 12-year-old you?

A: “You have the ability to become whatever you want to be, go after it and don’t stop until you have achieved that thing. Become a student, and learn, learn, learn, and in learning, learn to love yourself unconditionally, because there will never be another you. Don’t be so hard on yourself, that’s why pencils have erasers. Be confident, be gentle, and be kind.”

Q: What is the main thing you’d like to instill in the women you encounter?

A: “Love without expecting anything in return. Speak life, build yourself, and in return, build others. But do it with a sincere heart, not because it’s the right thing to do, or because it’s the ‘in thing’ to do, but because it’s the heart thing to do.”

Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

A: “Three things: 1. Communication is to a relationship what blood is to the body.  2. Whatever you do, do it with your whole heart. 3. In everything, give thanks.” 

Q: What do you want your legacy to be? How do you want to be remembered?

A: “I want to be remembered for baking and being creative with beads. I’m a baker and have a side baking business I’m still cultivating. I need to pass my recipes down to my next generation. I don’t play about my cookies. SoWristicated Art, which is another part of me, is an expression of my passions and style. I only have one son and he’s not showing any interest in baking or beading. I have one grandson who is he’s five, so we shall see if he gets involved with baking and beading. As a woman, I want to be remembered as someone who lived a life of love, that showed in everything she did.”

Q: What is next for you?

A: “I see more designs, more love, and I believe, another business in my future. I don’t have a clue what my next business will be, but I feel there’s more. I’m just scratching the surface right now.”

Thank you, Rozonna for giving us a broader view of SoWristicated Art and the amazing woman behind its existence. I am inspired by your creativity and your voice. Keep rising.

Be sure to visit SoWrisiticated Art on Etsy, you may find something you love!

Until the next time be you—but more important—love you.

Being uniquely you is being uniquely beautiful.

-B.B. 💋