Finding Authenticity in Her Brand Identity

Miniature, wearable pieces of art. That’s how Kelsey Sorenson, Creator and Owner of Rose & Clay Earrings, describes her polymer clay earrings and barrettes. I couldn’t help but agree with her. These studs, dangles, and clips are the perfect way to dress up your day. It's like wearable poetry.

The interesting thing about Rose & Clay is that it wasn’t originally intended to be a business.

In March of 2020, Kelsey was about to graduate with a BA in Dance & Choreography when the pandemic struck and she was forced to finish from home. Missing out on her crowning glory, her senior showcase, she turned to crafting to find a way to fill her creative void.

“My favorite part of dance was actually choreography. I always love making dance. I just like making.” - Kelsey

This desire to create led her to, yep that’s right, her Pinterest board (thanks, Pinterest!). She found polymer clay earrings and thought, “I can make that.” Her initial desire was to create earrings for herself, but as she researched more into it, she realized there was so much more than just clay needed. To justify her spending, she decided to sell a few earrings to her friends to cover the cost of supplies.

It wasn’t meant to be a thing. But, when it started taking off, she realized she wanted it to become a thing, or rather, a fully-fledged business.

She jetéd into running a small, artsy business.

While the business side of it was the hardest part to figure out for her, the creative side came much more easily.

“I am inspired by the prettiest things in nature. So, to me, the obvious things are definitely florals. Gemstones as well. Also, different things in space, like stars, and moons have been inspiring to me lately. There's just something very dreamy about them. So, I think all of those things in different combinations and different versions have definitely been inspirational to me. It feels true to my core as a human, and just what I want my brand to be.” - Kelsey

Finding her brand identity and aesthetic has been the most recent struggle for this artist. Her goal in her business is to make women feel beautiful, but how does that desire translate into her designs and her brand? It actually became her brand.

“I know what it feels like to not feel beautiful. I also know what it feels like to wear an awesome outfit and feel absolutely stunning. If I could have one positive impact from my business, it would be helping someone feel beautiful.”

Coupled with this desire and her inspirational designs, Kelsey has done just that. Kelsey began creating earrings that she finally felt were authentic to her and her brand. One of these earrings was her incredibly popular Eve Dangle.

This earring is one of her most inventive designs because it can be a simple stud or a dangle. The wearer can choose to add an extra piece to the backing to create a dangle & stud combo that looks like leaves cascading down. It is a stunning effect. Miniature, wearable art, just as she professed.

“It was probably one of the first pieces that actually sparked me into thinking: What is my brand, because it was the first piece that felt so authentic to me.” - Kelsey

Taking inspiration from this earring, she finally felt like she found her brand identity and authenticity. From my own speculations, her brand is so authentic because Kelsey started out creating for herself, and still does—she only designs earrings she would wear.

Her philosophy, creativity, and compassion for women have interwoven into her brand, one that customers trust and love, often coming back for more.

Something that differentiates Rose & Clay Earrings from other clay makers is that she has expanded her wearable art into clay clips and barrettes, and soon she will be releasing the first-ever, one-of-a-kind, clay hairband.

The ingenuity and authenticity of this brand are what really sets it apart.

Go check out Rose & Clay at roseandclayearrings.com and @roseandclayearrings!