Meet Montana Marks: Jewelry Designer & Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Montana Marks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Montana, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I had been wanting to start designing and creating jewelry for years, and it all randomly came together. My best friend passed in 2019 from lung cancer, and after that happened, my whole world was turned upside down. The name On A Wing popped into my head one day out of nowhere after that and I fell in love with it. The whole concept revolves around the fact that we are all riding on a wing, different wings for different periods of time through our lives. We can all be a wing for others aka we can all be guardian angels for one another. My parents taught me from a young age the importance of helping others, helping strangers, and giving back however we are able to. I’ve always believed that kindness even in the smallest form can change someone’s life. After I came up with the name and the meaning, everything else just started to flow. I knew I wanted the pieces to be unique, one of a kind, a little edgy, and remind the person wearing it that they are always enough and that they can climb any mountain.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I moved out to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, which I am still doing, but this business was started on a whim to be honest. I had no idea what I was doing in the beginning, and some days I still don’t, but I am so proud of how much it has grown already. I think I am the most proud of the fact I have been able to donate to two organizations so far. Each piece I make has a specific organization it donates to. I’m so insanely excited to be releasing the third piece in the next few months; it’s being finished soon. Each piece is unique and has so much meaning behind it, and I think that is what sets it apart in the jewelry world. I want people to know that they are important, that they are enough just as they are. I want On A Wing to inspire people wearing it to keep moving forward and to keep flying.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live almost right in the heart of Hollywood, so I’m central to so many amazing things. I would take them to Home for breakfast in Los Feliz, then hit the beach in Malibu, grab seafood at Malibu Seafood after, catch the sunset somewhere on the way back. Then go to one of the Houston Brothers spots that night for cocktails and music. I love Topanga Canyon too so I would add that to the list for sure. I used to live right in Topanga and it was amazing. I’d take them on a hike too! And Lake Shrine. Echo Park. Sage right near the lake has bomb food! So many places and not enough time!!! Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have so many shoutouts to give! Firstly, Trisha Graybill. She is the inspiration behind On A Wing. I want to give a huge shoutout to her amazing family who I am grateful to have met through her. They have been so supportive and they all have the biggest hearts!! A portion of the ‘Enough to Fly’ pendant sales are donated to her brother’s organization, Beyond Labels and Limitations. Also, huge shoutout to my family and friends. There are too many names to list, but so many of the sales since On A Wing launched in July of 2020 have been from them! I have the most supportive people in my life. It blows my mind. My boyfriend is the reason On A Wing is in its first store, and he’s always helping me take photos. Then, Jen Boschma, owner of Love Verite. She helped me so much with advice and how to start everything. Thank you thank you thank you everyone!!!!

Website: www.onawing.co

Instagram: @onawing.co