I launched Lizzie Fortunato in the spring of 2008 from the sofa of my Lower East Side walk-up. I started designing jewelry years earlier during undergrad at Duke and developed a small following that gave me the confidence that I was onto something. On our 24th birthday, my twin sister Kathryn left me her Goldman Sachs bonus check - $10,000 - with a note that said “follow your dreams.” That was the only funding Lizzie Fortunato Jewels ever received.

In 2010, Kathryn joined me full time, and since then we’ve had a few office moves, two weddings, two babies, and built our team to 14. But we still design and assemble many styles in our collection right here in NYC using a range of materials and components from all over the globe. We prioritize the integrity of our products, team members, and vendors over exponential growth.