Anna Proctor is the founder and designer of Beads by Anna. She is a sophomore at SMU, studying PR and Advertising. She is from Nashville, Tennessee. I sat down with her to talk about what inspires her unique style.
Her Campus SMU: How did Beads by Anna start?
Anna Proctor: It started when I began making jewelry for myself. Soon my friends took notice and wanted me to make them pieces of their own.
HC SMU: How would you describe the style of Beads by Anna?
AP: It has a lot of different styles. Some pieces are bohemian, some are classic, and some are edgier.
HC SMU: How do you get your inspiration for your jewelry designs?
AP: Traveling inspires me greatly. I’m very into color. Also, my whole Instagram feed is different jewelry designers. Whenever I’m shopping I constantly take pictures of jewelry so I can see how to use it in my own designs.
HC SMU: Who are your personal style icons?
AP: Audrey Hepburn, Taylor Swift, and Blake Lively. Audrey is classic, Taylor is very consistent, and Blake takes risks. I like to be a combination of all three with my own style.
HC SMU: What are fashion pieces you can’t live without?
AP: First and foremost I could not live without the color black. I love wearing booties. Scarves and graphic t-shirts are staples in my daily wardrobe.
HC SMU: What upcoming plans do you have for Beads by Anna?
AP: My next step is establishing an online presence. This will be through an online shop or Etsy store. This summer, stores started contacting me wanting me to wholesale my designs. For now I declined so I can focus on school. I don’t want Beads by Anna to seem like a job. For me it’s just more of a creative outlet. Right now I’m just focused on operating on Instagram.
HC SMU: What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own jewelry line?
AP: I would say to establish yourself and your style. I started not realizing what I was doing and had a lot of anxiety related to that. Plan your vision for your line and stick to it. Lastly, it’s important to know your limits-you can’t say yes to everything.
Photo courtesy of Facebook