Lizzie Fortunato

Lizzie Fortunato launched her namesake line in the spring of 2008 from the sofa of her Lower East Side walk-up. She started designing jewelry years earlier during undergrad at Duke and developed a small following that gave her the confidence that she was onto something. On their 24th birthday, her twin sister Kathryn left Lizzie 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 the company full time, and since then they’ve had a few office moves, two weddings, two babies, and built their team to 14. But they still design and assemble many styles in the collection in NYC using a range of materials and components from all over the globe. They prioritize the integrity of their products, team members, and vendors over exponential growth.