I’m in the living room of the one-bedroom apartment Margaret of Xpressions by ML shares with her husband, Will. We’re by our group of girlfriends, some in the kitchen making snacks for our afternoon together, others (me) on the couch pretending to “help” by eating said snacks to make room for more.
On every surface lies earrings, other accessories, and all the tools needed to create something beautiful – her line is having tremendous success. It was on the floor of her cozy home that she gave me an in-depth look at her side hustle, and dropped a few incredible gems of knowledge so brilliant that I just had to share a few minutes with my friend, Margaret, the designer.
On her passion project
Xpressions by ML is a fashion forward, handmade, earring and accessory line that is on trend, high quality and affordable. Xpressions by ML is accessible – the everywoman’s brand.
On staying motivated
This is what I was meant to do. I know these first few years will a lot of hard work but I am making a dream come true. It’s worth every minute.
On focus
I made my first piece of jewelry 6 years ago. My friends liked my work and I enjoyed the work so I decided to make it a business. I was doing too much and the quality was not as high as I wanted. It was a total failure and just horrible. I took a break, and decided to focus on making one thing the best it could be. I took classes at FIT (of Project Runway fame) and since then I can proudly say that every day I grow stronger at making earrings and hair pieces.
On advice to her younger self
Oh my god, I was so stupid when I was young (she says with a smile. In the photo to the left, she wears handmade earrings to her August wedding. A wedding collection would do well here). I honestly wish I would have just believed in myself more. I’m still not the most confident, but I’ve come a long way: from pretending to find jewelry on the ground to selling it successfully to multiple clients. But that’s something I had to learn – we all have to go through stuff to learn.
On success
I was so scared when the sales started to come in. I was panicked at how I could keep up with them while working a 9-5. I’m happy to say that I’ve never turned down an order, not yet. I have nearly 10 boutique clients (from NYC to Georgia) selling my items in stores and online. I’ve appeared at Brooklyn Fashion Week and most recently at Uptown Fashion Week. Earlier this year, a new & upcoming MTV artist wore my earring designs on the 2013 Grammy red carpet. Plus, I have items for individual sale on my website. I truly believe God has blessed me tremendously and I want to give him a shout out.
For more information on Xpressions by ML, follow Margaret on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or visit her website.
