Small Business

You might already know Lia Sophia—maybe you’ve gotten one of their pieces as a gift or you’ve seen one of their stunning accessories on a celebrity, but there’s a more meaningful mission behind the business. I recently caught up with the woman behind this global empire (yes, they’re in Canada and Germany too!), and learned that Lia Sophia is so much more than a jewelry brand.

It all started when Elena married Tory Kiam, whose family owned the Lady Remington jewelry line. Elena, realizing her calling was more in bracelets and earrings than numbers, eventually left her job in finance to completely revamp the brand. The made-over line was renamed “Lia Sophia” after the couple’s two daughters. Today, Elena Kiam is the Creative Director and Co-Owner of Lia Sophia, which now employs 30,000 women worldwide, has a Red Carpet Collection that is featured in New York City at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, and partners with Dress for Success.

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