Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalia Almomani.
Hi Natalia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Having lived in Dubai for nearly 6 years, traveling was on our minds and the calendar at every chance we could get. Exploring countries such as the Maldives, India, Turkey, Pakistan, Jordan, and Oman, we made it a point to be present and absorb every little bit each country offers. Our passion for everything unique, particularly different cultures, has always intrigued us, especially how individuals defined their style through jewels and accessories. Unfortunately, in 2018, and recently married, I was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder that forced me to take a break from life. I battled for over a year with symptoms that progressed rapidly, eventually leading me to seek treatment back in the US. As a natural go-getter and optimist during this difficult dark time, creativity became my outlet. As I coped with my illness on a day-to-day, I reflected on our travels (dreaming of healthier days on being on the go again). I returned to my passion for art, mainly sketching/drawing. Inspired by what it means to ‘define your style’ in terms of accessories, the love of art, and making what we consider ‘affordable luxury’– oh and, of course, my husband’s love of architecture and clean lines as an engineer–it is these unique points that led us to The Silver Root.
Within 4 months of creating our first batch of jewels, we were in boutique retail stores in the city (DC). Today we’re a husband and wife duo who create and handcraft unique quality jewelry pieces inspired by the world and at affordable prices, with the sophisticated and chic woman in mind available at several boutiques across the DMV (DC, MD & VA), as featured partners with Shop Made in DC (they house over 300+ locals makers) in their brick and mortar stores, and of course online on our website at www.thesilverroot.com.
Major brands in our industry markup their products as much as 10x the actual cost, so naturally, we decided to do things differently to make fine jewelry accessible; our creations are made with the consumer in mind- you, regarding quality and price. Above all, our jewelry is handcrafted with the same top materials (925 sterling bases on all of our jewelry to ensure and avoid allergic reactions– hence “The Silver Root”) and quality craftsmanship as other luxury jewelry brands (strict eye for details) but without the traditional markups. We pride ourselves in quality and design, and our thought process is simple; we believe art should be born from materials.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It was not a smooth road at the start with being ill–there were days I had to push through, but perseverance and determination always prevailed. Having a goal and focus sets a tone regardless of where one is in life or battling whatever challenge life throws. Every decision is a choice. One has to decide to win, overcome, outgrow, and most importantly, believe in themselves– you have to keep going!
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I selected ‘other’ because my husband and immediate family consider me a jack of all trades. I have a BFA in graphic design and advertising, an MBA with a specialization in marketing, am an artist and creative (I’ve been sketching for as long as I can remember but also paint (acrylic & oil) and, most recently, textured art), plant lover and plant mom (over 30 plants), gardener, I play the violin and speak three languages.
My education and design background has allowed my career in marketing to excel, and what took me abroad. I have worked for many industries ranging from aerospace engineering, government, education, and beauty/spa to working with one of the largest healthcare groups in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.
I am most proud of being fearless! I have a natural knack for curiosity, and you mix that with being fearless, and honestly, there’s nothing I feel that can stop me or is out of reach. I am not one to take failure to heart. I take every single chance and opportunity that comes my way. Whether or not I know what I am doing, I figure it out. Life is about chances, trial, and error, and if you don’t take leaps (small and large), you will never know what life could’ve been! For example, I went on holiday to Dubai for two weeks, applied for a position– interviewed, got the job, called my family to tell them that I wasn’t coming back, and just like that, I gained international marketing experience, traveled extensively, met my husband, and built a brand. What sets me apart from others– me just being me.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I am lucky that I was born, raised, and live in such a creative city. DC is a metropolitan city filled with everything we already know– landmarks, politics, and history but it is also a vibrant city filled with creatives! It is difficult not to be inspired here, art and inspiration are supported by artists and local businesses, and I am very lucky. That being said, before I could kick off our website, we were (and still are) creators on Etsy. We were too excited not to share our first shortlisted small batch of jewels, so we created our small storefront on the platform, and within two weeks, our humble page caught the eye of a boutique store manager, and the rest is history. A pop-up later quickly resulted in a PO, and we were in retail within 4 months of our launch.
Pricing:
- $35-$130
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thesilverroot.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesilverroot
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesilverroot
