Otra Vez

Meet local designer, Jessica Salazar of Otra Vez, our featured designer for November. What kind of products do you create and where can people find them? Otra Vez creates one-of-a-kind earrings and rings made from salvaged, recycled, or vintage materials.  Otra Vez products are currently carried in the Seattle area at Clementine, Peridot, The Green Chair Project, Frock Shop, Duque Salon/Spa/Boutique, Sold Home Decor, and on our website at www.otravez-ecotique.com. I also do custom orders and love to create individualized pieces for my customers with their old/scrap/broken/vintage/jewelry.

What inspired you to start doing what you do? I could never find exactly what I wanted in stores, and sought unique pieces that I wouldn’t see anyone else wearing. Otra Vez was inspired by the idea of creating pieces unique to themselves and to the person wearing them. I also love being my own boss, and the idea of being a stay-at-home-mom once I have kids. 

What's your background and have you always been creative?  Are there other artistic endeavors you're involved in?  My parents are both artists, and so my own creativity has been influenced and encouraged by them. I have been involved in making mosaics for the past 15 years or so, and have had the opportunity to create several large scale commercial mosaic murals. I also love experimenting with photography and mixed media. 

Where do you get your ideas for your designs? My jewelry designs are inspired by the world around me; shadows, shapes, textures, skin tones, fashion, changes in the weather, etc. I am definitely encouraged creatively by beautiful and interesting looking people, and different styles and fashion interpretations. 

What type of equipment do you use?  Do you make all of your pieces yourself? I don’t use any special equipment per se. Just my hands, some basic jewelry making tools, and sometimes a drill or dremel rotary tool. For now, all pieces are made by me. 

How do you see expanding your line in the near future? I would love to learn how to use a soldering tool. This would open so many new design doors for me!  

Whose work do you admire? Two local jewelry artists that I really admire are LunaVerSoul and Krista Faye Knows Love. 

What advice would you offer new designers entering the market? Keep knocking on doors until somebody says yes! 
 
What is your vision for your business and where would you like to be in five years? My vision for Otra Vez is constant, continual growth. For now, I would love to partner with new boutiques and local businesses, and collaborate with other artists. In five years I would love Otra Vez to have expanded to its own retail location and possibly include a women’s clothing line. The possibilities are endless!  

Any other area of fashion you'd like to delve into? I would love to learn to sew so I could alter and re-create used or vintage clothing. I see pieces all the time that I wish I could make shorter, cut the sleeves off of, add to, etc. I have so many ideas that I could bring to life with a sewing machine and some skills… 

What current trend would you like to see go away? Tight jeans on guys… 

If you could have one item, new or vintage, what would it be? A strand of vintage chocolate pearls. 

What item did you wear to shreds growing up? My soccer shoes. 

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