Meet Mericia Alcaraz | Metalsmith & Jewelry Maker

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

Hi Mericia, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Our goal is to design pieces that transition from season to season, that are not part of fast fashion, that are good quality, and can be worn for a lifetime. We are continuously trying to improve in being green, ethical, and thinking about where things come from. From using recycled metals to sourcing ethical stones and repurposing or recycling any leftovers. Reducing waste and lowering our carbon footprint are important professionally and personally. Our package is mostly recycled materials and has very little to no plastic. We truly care about quality and consciousness above all. Not only is it important to us, but it is also important to our customers.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

Melrie Jewelry is a small-batch jewelry brand focusing on handmade pieces using old-world techniques. Every piece of jewelry is meticulously designed and made with a deep love for the craft. In many cases, our jewelry begins with a piece of wire, and after being manipulated by hand, hammered, soldered, polished, and stitched, it slowly forms a beautiful piece. Some pieces take hours, if not multiple days, to complete.
In the ever-growing field of jewelry, quality and authenticity will set you apart. We believe in making jewelry that’s more than just beautiful jewelry. Jewelry that can be an extension of yourself, that’s meaningful, that tells a story, that’s comfortable, good quality, sustainable, and can be worn day after day. With every piece of jewelry, we hope to bring a spark of joy and make women feel empowered.
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As far back as I can remember, I expressed myself through what I made with my hands. I grew up in a household where exploring various artistic endeavors was encouraged, which helped me to mold a passion for handmade things. My love for jewelry-making began at a very young age. My mom had picked up a new job assembling massive amounts of jewelry components from home, and I was immediately drawn to the work. I would constantly beg her to let me help her until she one day gave in. Since then, jewelry making has been a part of me.
In February 2017, after quitting my job two months prior, I began a self-taught journey in not only metalsmithing but web development, marketing, photography, sales, customer service… you get the idea. Getting to where I am today has not been an easy road. I’ve experienced some pretty lows but also some incredible highs. I’m grateful for what I have and continue to experience. I will say that most of these bumps have resulted from areas where I need to improve. When you are responsible for many aspects of your business, there are always struggles to overcome. Like any other artist out there, I, too, at times struggle with self-doubt, especially at the begging. I’d catch myself questioning everything about my work and my decisions. Is my jewelry good enough? Will it sell? Should I do this or that? There is always a level of vulnerability, especially when you pour your heart out into making something from deep within you. When I fall into that hole, I remind myself to stay true to my work and only create jewelry I love.
It’s difficult to pinpoint one proud moment; In this journey, everything is new and exciting. Hitting my first 1,000 followers, having my first sale outside the country, or having a bride walk down the aisle wearing Melrie on her wedding day – all of those moments fill me up with pride and gratitude. I will say, though, that I feel so fortunate to be able to exercise my passion as my career. Being able to wake up and do what I’m so passionate about. There are so many lessons I’ve learned along the way, but there are two that stand out. You don’t have to know or plan everything to start- You will never be ready, but you will learn along the way. Second, everything is temporary. Whether that’s good or bad, everything passes, so embrace it and learn from each experience.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I’m spending a whole week with a friend that has never been to LA, this is probably where I would take her.

Day 1: Morning hike at one of my favorite trails, La Tuna Canyon. Followed by brunch at Café De Olla. A little shopping in between, maybe the Getty Museum, followed by dinner at Tsujita LA Artisan Noodles.

Day 2: A full day at Venice Beach, bike riding, volleyball, and delicious local seafood for lunch. Of course, after a long day at the beach, In N Out is a must.

Day 3: Exploring Down Town LA and lunch at the Grand Central Market. Visiting The Broad Museum followed by dinner at Manuela DTLA ( their biscuits are to die for)

Day 4: A full day at Disney!

Day 5: A day at Griffith Park followed by dinner at Bacari Silverlake and cocktail drinks at the NoMad (the Saku-Maru cocktail is a must!)

Day 6: Lunch at Chiba- after stuffing our faces with AMAZING sushi, a sunset hike will hit the spot. If we are up for some dinner, there is Vino Wine & Tapas Room (it has the coziest vibes).

Day 7: Breakfast at Republique and a little touring around Hollywood. And finally, dinner & drinks at one of my new favorite places, Saffy’s.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I couldn’t have done it without the support and encouragement of my husband. Since we met, he saw more in me than I could ever. To my wonderful parents for instilling in me the love of art and a good work ethic. And to all my amazing friends who have cheered me along the way.

Website: Melrie.com

Instagram: @Melrie.Jewelry

Facebook: Melrie Jewelry

Other: TikTok- @MelrieJewelry