Journal

Kelsey's Botanica Origin Story

on paper, nothing about my life before Botanica screamed “future jewellery designer.” 
but here I am, against all odds, so let me tell you about how I got here.

Title

By Kelsey Lee / 30 October 2026

Working in the jewellery industry means I get asked the same question all the time: “Do you manufacture jewellery?”

To which my answer is: “Nope, I don’t know how to manufacture.”

 

This answer is almost always followed by a confused: “Oh… then how did you get into jewellery design?”

 

These are fair questions because, on paper, nothing about my life before Botanica screamed “future jewellery designer.” but here I am, against all odds, so let me tell you about how I got here.

“I will never forget the overwhelming feeling of failure”

When I matriculated from high school in 2013, with very unimpressive marks outside of Design and English, my biggest dream was to become a graphic designer. I ended up hoisting myself head-first into a graphic design diploma at Red and Yellow. I didn’t end up completing the course, which is a story for another day, but I will never forget the overwhelming feeling of failure which was accompanied by some severe career confusion. I spent many years caring for children, working as an au pair, while I did my best to figure out what I actually wanted my future trajectory to look like. It felt like I was walking around with a massive sign on my head that said “I’m a college dropout and I have no hope for a career”.

I truly believed that I had nothing of value to add to my CV which pushed me to get my BA through UNISA, and I am exceptionally proud of myself for this, but during this time I was desperately seeking some form of creative outlet. Just before the world went into lockdown, I decided to create an online platform and a personal brand that told the story of who I am, what I care about, how I see the world, and why I feel deeply passionate about the things and people that I love. It turned out to be the best decision I’d made in a while and in a presumed twist of fate, my personal brand cracked the door to my jewellery design career wide open long before I ever even dreamed of stepping foot in the industry.

“It served as my safe space to speak openly and honestly about my struggles with body image, self-worth, mental health, and learning to show up as myself in a world where we are taught that the way we look is the most interesting thing about us"

Claire and I first “met” through Instagram; I fell in love with her jewellery and she connected with my content. At the time, my profile  was the furthest thing from a curated portfolio or anything strategically career-focused. It served as my safe space to speak openly and honestly about my struggles with body image, self-worth, mental health, and learning to show up as myself in a world where we are taught that the way we look is the most interesting thing about us (spoiler: it’s not). It was vulnerable and imperfect, and very real, but that raw storytelling became an unexpected core part of my personal brand.

We casually chatted online for a while, and then one day Claire decided to join me at one of the beloved Pilates classes I regularly posted about on my Instagram stories. We connected immediately which resulted in us chatting more often (we haven’t stopped yapping since, by the way). Those conversations continued online, evolving naturally over time and sewing the seeds for the path that I believe was genuinely meant for me. One day Claire messaged me, seemingly out of the blue, to ask if I’d be interested in a part-time admin position at Botanica. There was absolutely no  pressure and zero grand expectations, what was presented to me was an opportunity rooted in authentic trust and human connection. 

 

How could I possibly say no?


That small unassuming door became the start of everything: my introduction to the jewellery world, my design journey, and ultimately my career. I did not submit a formal application, I had absolutely no industry experience or knowledge, and I was three quarters of the way through a vastly unrelated degree. All I had was a personal brand built on vulnerability, storytelling, and my deep determination to show up as the version of me that exists outside of work.

To this day I truly believe that showing up as your authentic self will open more doors than you could ever strategise your way through and it will save you a seat at a table you actually want to sit at. I have learnt that people connect with honesty and recognise consistency; they genuinely respond to the parts of you that are real and human, not the perfectly curated, career-ready version that you present yourself as. In an industry that can sometimes feel elitist or “out-of-reach” to some, I think this is something that we need to see more of.

When I stepped into my role as Claire’s admin assistant, I was terrified. I had leapt into a field that I knew absolutely nothing about but I was driven by a deep love for Botanica’s jewellery, ethos, and human-centered approach to business… as well as a stream of income (I’m nothing if not honest). 

Claire and I often joke about how my Botanica beginnings were “baptism by fire”. Not even a full four months after my first day on the job, Claire went on a trip to Spain and I was left to woman the ship alone. I’d probably say that this was the period where my passion for Botanica truly bloomed. Initially I thought it was because I had to learn how to handle things on my own, but I’ve come to realise it is because Claire trusted me to handle things on my own. I think any small business owner will know how difficult that is, and that trust that Claire put in me truly fueled my belief that I could absolutely navigate a completely foreign industry.

“I said yes to things that felt scary, I put my hand up for things that weren’t necessarily my responsibility, I showed up for our team; and somewhere along the way I realised that my work started to feel like a natural extension of myself"

When Claire returned (and I managed to not burn the place down) I was brought onto the Botanica team full-time. From there I worked hard, I was curious, I showed interest, I made mistakes, and I learned. I showed up consistently and continued to baptise myself by fire; I said yes to things that felt scary, I put my hand up for things that weren’t necessarily my responsibility, I showed up for our team; and somewhere along the way I realised that my work started to feel like a natural extension of myself. It just felt so right. 

“there is an undeniable invisible string that weaves through my life”

I’m not sure if you believe in any version of “fate”, but there is an undeniable invisible string that weaves through my life, pulling me exactly where I need to be. Immersing myself into a small business taught me more lessons than I could have ever learned in any lecture hall and I’ve truly grown in ways that I could never have dreamed possible for little old "college dropout” me.

 

I wish I could go back and tell my younger self that all of the pieces are, in fact, falling into place and that we really do make it out the other side okay. Actually, not just okay, but thriving and loving every second of it.

So here I find myself on the other end of nearly five years of dedication to a business and brand that I still believe in with every fibre of my being. I now hold something that means more than any seemingly important list on a CV: a career forged by fire, by determination, and by passion. Outside of my career achievements, managing to pay my bills, and a reason to get out of bed in the morning, Botanica has given me the proof I needed to feel capable and worthy of calling myself a jewellery designer.

 

Of course I am not immune to self-doubt and there is so much more left to learn, but I'm finally sitting in a seat at a table that I actually want to be at.

 

Thank you for getting this far and for being invested in my story, I truly wouldn't be here today if it weren't for our wonderful clients who trusted me to bring their special custom designs to life. I am eternally grateful for my entire Botanica journey.

 

All my love,

 

Kelsey 

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