Meet Shermineh Ghane | Fine Jewelry Designer & Business Owner

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

Hi Shermineh, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I always knew that at some point in my life I would start my own business focused on my love for fashion and creativity. However I didn’t know that it would be in jewelry until it was already happening! As someone who loves to wear and shop for jewelry, I was getting frustrated with the lightweight, plated jewelry dominating the industry. When I’m spending hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars, I expect to wear solid, substantial jewelry where I can feel the weight and quality of the materials. I felt like the uniqueness of jewelry itself was getting lost with the industry shift. So, I decided to learn how to make jewelry myself, so that I could make what I was looking for that was missing in the market. I shared the journey with friends and my social media platform, and it was so well-received that it lead me to establish Talāyee Fine Jewelry! At Talāyee, I focus on creating quality jewelry with weight and unique designs that stand out in the market. As I approach the 2-year anniversary, I am excited for what’s to come in the next year and beyond.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Talāyee Fine Jewelry stands out from other fine jewelry businesses because of our unwavering commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. The jewelry industry can have a negative impact on the environment and communities across the world, especially when it comes to mining gold and precious gems. To combat this, we have made it our mission to be as earth-conscious as possible. Our business model is “made to order,” reducing excess waste and using only recycled, vintage, or deadstock materials to minimize our dependency on new mining. We have also replaced harmful chemicals used during the jewelry making process with more environmentally-friendly alternatives. These changes weren’t easy to make, and they certainly required and upfront investment, but in the long run, I knew it was the right call to make for the brand. When you purchase jewelry from Talāyee Fine Jewelry, you can trust that we have taken all measures to deliver a high-quality, unique piece of jewelry to you that is both sustainable and ethically made.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Luckily I live in San Francisco so there is so much to see and do in this amazing city! The ideal itinerary would be a balance of seeing some of the most popular destinations for first time visitors with the charm of local secrets only a San Francisco native would know about.

If walking the Golden Gate Bridge is a must- see I’d start our morning there to take in the stunning views (when the fog isn’t rolling in) of the bay and the bridge. After, you can head over to the Palace of Fine Arts to admire the beautiful architecture and gardens. It’s like you’re in another country! Then I’d head over to the Marina District for lunch at Flores and shopping along Union St.

I think Chinatown is a must visit for anyone coming to San Francisco. It’s the the oldest Chintatown in North America and is full of great food and fun shops. You can get dim sum at popular spots like Good Mong Kok Bakery and Yank Sing, or visit the original place where fortune cookies were made at Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. Since you’re within walking distance of the main Downtown area, you can shop major designer stores, like Chanel or Gucci, and see the famous cable cars on Market Street. Finish the day with a sunset cocktail at the scenic rooftop bar, Top of the Mark!

After you get most of the tourist destinations out of the way, the three neighborhoods I recommend to visit are Haight-Ashbury, the Mission District, and Hayes Valley. The Haight-Ashbury neighborhood is where the 1960s hippie counterculture thrived. You’ll find vintage clothing stores, record shops, and colorful murals. Don’t forget to grab lunch at Zazie, my favorite french inspired bistro! Hayes Valley is an up and coming neighborhood with great shopping and food. I love visiting Reliquary and Metier for fun jewels and clothing, and I recommend eating at a Mano or Absinthe! Finally, the Mission District is filled with colorful murals and street art. Definitely check out Tartine Bakery for some of the city’s best bread and pastries, and browse local boutiques like Fiat Lux, Gravel & Gold, and Voyager Shop. For lunch, try the famous Mission-style burritos at La Taqueria, or Peruvian cuisine and Limón.

Lastly, if you’re in Northern California, you have to visit wine country for a day. Napa Valley and Sonoma County are both located about an hour’s drive from San Francisco and offer some of the best wine tasting experiences in the world! Make a wine tasting reservation at Ashes & Diamonds winery, and a late lunch reservation and Farmstead for the perfect day.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Small business entrepreneurship is often a tough space to get into. It involves a lot of risk, and sometimes it can feel lonely. It’s so important to always look around and recognize the people who are supporting you, encouraging you, and catching you when you stumble. I have to give a shoutout to all the women who have supported my journey in big and small ways, either through purchasing a piece of jewelry, engaging with social media content, or mentioning my name or brand in a room. Small business ownership is all about the community and connections you build around you, and my community deserves that recognition.

Website: https://shoptalayee.com/

Instagram: @talayee_jewelry

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shermineh-ghane-67a12852/

Other: TikTok: @talayeefinejewelry