Meet Leah Manak of Leandra Mar Jewelry in Carefree

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Manak.

Leah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My professional career is in ecology, however, I have always entertained my creative side by playing music and more recently by making jewelry. In 2016, I met a metalsmith who wore his silver work on his hands, and his heart on his sleeves. He became my mentor, and I was able to create a ring with him for my sister’s birthday as my first piece. That experience was transformative, and it showed me that the power of art can be shared. Now, three years later, I have been fortunate to be a part of three engagements, many birthdays, and countless out-of-the blue “thinking of you gifts”. The entire process of creating handmade (and striving to be 100% ethical and sustainable) jewelry is grounding and intentional. As someone who is working in a field centered around our natural environment and how we relate to it, I am seeing the negative impacts of environmental degradation on human welfare and health. One way that I am choosing to actively combat this is by creating beautiful reminders of what is good about the world for the wearer to empower them throughout their day.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have been very fortunate not to let my craft be something that brings stress to my life. With that said, the major challenge that I face as a master’s student who is also working to grow a small personal business is the financial component. Being able to balance my education with the growth of my craft has been difficult, however, I have been able to trust the process along the way.

Please tell us about Leandra Mar Jewelry.
Leandra Mar Jewelry is a one-woman run show. I specialize in making hand-made pieces that speak to my love for the natural world. As an environmental scientist, I am constantly inspired by the workings of nature, and I try to incorporate that symbolism into my art. As we move toward an era of fast fashion and global climate change, I strive to be a drop in the ocean of intentionality and connectivity. I strive to connect people with unique adornments that will remind them of the beautiful things this world has to offer, and that will last them a lifetime. I am proud that I have set a commitment to myself that in the next year I will only be using ethically-sourced and sustainable materials. This profession uses harsh chemicals and has a large carbon footprint in regards to the mining practices, as well as shipping and making. For me, I would like to create a carbon “positive” company where my practice and my purchasing power both provide more opportunities for reusing and recycling as well as funding tree planting and other ecological & social initiatives. My overall goal is to let my art inspire and give back.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory is sitting with my family on our back porch in SW Colorado eating watermelons during the summertime.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 970-209-8675
• Email: leah.manak@gmail.com
• Instagram: leandra.marjewelry

Image Credit:
Leah Manak (photos of rings), Max Owens (personal photo)

Suggest a story: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.