Martha Calvo has been setting trends since middle school, and her namesake brand’s jewelry has gained attention from such celebrities as Justin Bieber and the Kardashians, so you might think she’s always worked in fashion.
But the Cuban designer, who is based in her hometown of Miami, is an accountant by trade. How’s that for using both sides of your brain?
Bieber has been sporting Calvo jewels across social media since the debut of his album Swag earlier this month—the singer has put Calvo’s Trippy Cord necklace and mushroom pendant on repeat.
“Seeing Justin Bieber effortlessly rocking our mushroom necklace is a reminder that jewelry isn’t just an accessory—it’s an energy you carry into the world,” Calvo says. “Moments like these aren’t just wins for our brand. They’re a spark for every designer out there to keep creating pieces that speak without words.”
Martha Calvo Door Knocker earrings ($130) in 14k gold plate
Calvo self-funded the founding of Martha Calvo Joolz in 2006 and has grown it into a jewelry brand favored by celebs including Bad Bunny and Kylie Jenner. She credits the Kardashians for helping boost her company from a home-based business to the sizable one it is now.
It all started in the 1980s, when a young Calvo used her creative touch to make rubber bracelets. Don’t remember the trend? You might not have been a Gen X kid who wore stacks of the inexpensive bracelets everywhere you went. Calvo was one of those on-trend aspiring fashionistas.
“I would visit the hardware store, buy rubber, and burn it to make my own custom designs. Even at a young age, I found joy in being creative and making something unique,” she recalls.
After graduating from Miami Sunset Senior High School, Calvo got a bachelor’s degree in business at Florida International University. Her first job was as an assistant at an accounting firm, where she helped with bookkeeping, and she went on to work accounting and bookkeeping jobs for about two decades.
Baroque freshwater pearls and fish and coral branch charms dangle from Martha Calvo Joolz Barrier earrings ($165).
That earlier career serves her to this day. “It taught me a lot about attention to detail and the importance of accuracy. Those skills have stayed with me and have been crucial in every step leading to my career today,” says Calvo.
While still employed in accounting, Calvo began making her own jewelry, mostly focusing on charms because they were popular in stores at the time. She would mix and match what she made with jewelry she already owned, creating an eclectic and memorable look.
“When I would wear my pieces out, people and would stop me and ask where they could buy them,” she says. “One day, someone said they wanted to try my pieces in their store and see how they moved. I created just three pieces, and within 24 hours they were sold out. It began sparking waves of requests, and I had to learn to improvise with my designs to keep it moving.”
In 2009, Calvo’s business grew rapidly after she visited the Miami location of Dash, the boutique the Kardashian sisters famously owned. Khloé Kardashian noticed the pieces Calvo was wearing and asked to buy them.
Calvo’s Good Fortune necklace ($200) has a fortune cookie pendant.
“She wanted every piece. Without any preparation, I went to my car and brought her all the stock I had,” Calvo says. “I was working from home, day and night, to replenish stock at all their locations on a constant basis.”
It was hard work, but having the reality stars wear and recommend Calvo’s jewelry was priceless advertising. Now, Calvo’s daughter Kayla has become another kind of ally: A graduate of Parsons School of Design, Kayla is working at the Martha Calvo brand with her mom.
“One thing I try to express to others in the business industry is when life gives you an opportunity, make sure you run with it,” Calvo says. “Never let an opportunity pass you by. Try to figure it out. I always tell my kids that. My family has been my biggest supporter throughout this journey.”
Top: Justin Bieber is a fan of this Martha Calvo mushroom necklace ($185), wearing it in multiple Instagram posts. (Photos courtesy of Martha Calvo)