Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Strang.
Hi Jessica, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Jessica Strang is the founder and designer of coco + peach jewelry, a Chicago-based, Latina-owned jewelry brand known for its modern, attainable luxury and effortlessly wearable designs. Since launching the company in 2019, she has expanded the brand beyond its signature everyday jewelry to include Sirena, a waterproof jewelry collection; Forever Jewelry, a permanent jewelry experience for private events and corporate activations; and the Encantada Charm Bar, an interactive charm experience that allows guests to create jewelry uniquely their own.
Although jewelry has become her creative calling, Jessica’s career began in an entirely different field. After earning her doctorate in psychology and opening her own private practice, she found herself returning to the industry that had shaped her childhood. Raised by immigrant parents from Ecuador and Colombia, she grew up in her family’s Chicago jewelry store, spending countless hours visiting the city’s historic Jeweler’s Row and developing a lifelong appreciation for craftsmanship, design, and entrepreneurship.
What began as designing jewelry for herself quickly evolved into a business after strangers repeatedly stopped her to ask about the pieces she was wearing. Inspired by those interactions, Jessica founded coco + peach—named after her daughters’ nicknames—with the vision of creating timeless jewelry that feels elevated, versatile, and accessible.
Today, coco + peach has been featured in international editions of Vogue, Marie Claire, Glamour, and other leading fashion publications, with Jessica’s designs appearing on runways and in editorial features around the world. Her collections are inspired by women who want jewelry that seamlessly transitions from work to weekends, special occasions to everyday life.
Beyond design, philanthropy remains central to the brand’s mission. Since its launch, coco + peach has donated a portion of every sale to support hunger relief in the Chicago community and currently has a partnership to donate $1 of each sale to Common Pantry, a Chicago based food pantry. This relationship reflects on Jessica’s belief that beautiful jewelry can also create meaningful impact.
Whether she’s designing a new collection, styling a charm bar activation, or welding a forever bracelet at a private event, Jessica continues to build coco + peach around the same philosophy that inspired her very first design: jewelry should feel effortless, personal, and made to be lived in.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like most entrepreneurs, Jessica says the challenges have been just as important as the successes. “I have designed pieces that I loved but my customers didn’t, and others that I almost didn’t launch that became bestsellers. You never know what people gravitate to in the early design years and every collection teaches you something. Now I understand my customers better and know what they want.”
She also acknowledges that breaking into the fashion industry as an independent, Latina-owned brand hasn’t always been easy. “There have been times, not too many thankfully, where I’ve felt like an outsider in rooms where appearances and ego seemed to matter more than talent. But because I am a clinical psychologist and have a keen understanding of human nature, I don’t let that affect me but it’s noted and I’ve avoided people and “scenes”‘when I felt it doesn’t suit my life. Instead of trying to fit into every circle, I have focused on building my own community and letting my work speak for itself versus being the kind of designer that goes to the opening of every envelope.”
The current economy has brought its own set of obstacles, from rising material costs to more cautious consumer spending. Rather than compromise on quality, Jessica has continued to evolve the brand—introducing new experiences like permanent jewelry and the Encantada Charm Bar while remaining committed to creating pieces that feel luxurious without an unattainable price tag. “Challenges force you to become more creative,” she says. “They’ve made the business stronger and reminded me that resilience and offering a special experience is just as important as good design.”
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
coco + peach jewelry is a Chicago-based, Latina-owned online jewelry brand built around one core idea: everyday jewelry should feel elevated, personal, and accessible. I specialize in modern, wearable luxury—pieces designed to move with you from work to weekends, casual moments to life’s most meaningful celebrations.
What sets my brand apart is the balance between design and experience. coco + peach is not just a jewelry line; it is a layered world of collections and activations that allow customers to interact with jewelry in different ways. My signature collections include Sirena, a water and tarnish-resistant line created for everyday wear without worry and made for those who want to wear their items all day but may want to take it off; Forever Jewelry, a permanent jewelry experience offered through private appointments, events, and corporate activations; and the Encantada Charm Bar, an interactive styling experience where clients design custom charm pieces that reflect their personal story in person or online. I also offer GIRL, a collection designed for younger jewelry lovers and made for sensitive ears.
At its core, the brand is known for creating pieces that feel effortless but intentional—jewelry that looks styled without requiring thought. Every design is created with versatility in mind, with the belief that luxury should not be reserved for special occasions or inaccessible price points. It’s jewelry for all!
What I are most proud of as a brand is the community that has formed around it. coco + peach has grown from a small independent collection into a brand that shows up in editorial spaces, private events, and everyday lives. I am equally proud of my commitment to accessibility and giving back, including ongoing donations to support food insecurity in Chicago and creating jewelry for people with fine motor skills issues.
Ultimately, I want readers to know that coco + peach is built on both craftsmanship and connection. It is a brand designed for real life—created by someone who believes jewelry should feel personal, lived-in, and meaningful, not just decorative. Every piece is made with the same guiding question: would I wear this, and would I reach for it again and again? If the answer is yes, it becomes part of the collection.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
For me, mentorship comes from genuine connection. I can be shy and a homebody to people who do not know me (or who I don’t feel like talking to) which is why I feel that networking can be very disingenuous and weird. With my psychology background, I feel that I can get a good read on people and rarely miss- the most meaningful relationships are built when you approach people with curiosity rather than expectation. The relationships I seek out and actively maintain are the ones in which I genuinely want connection and learn from versus “what can I get.” I have many friends in the fashion industry that I check up on, cheer on from afar and drop their names to others because I want them to succeed. The people that have helped me along the way have moved beyond being a mentor and into real friends.
What has worked for me is reaching out in a very human way. I don’t overthink it or try to “pitch” myself ever. Instead, I ask questions, share what I’m creating, and show appreciation for someone’s work. That often opens the door more naturally than a traditional networking approach. As a former art history major (before I changed to psychology in college), I am a total lover of beauty and design so I’m drawn to creative people with true talent and have no issues telling people how inspiring their work is to me.
In my experience, mentorship doesn’t always look like one defined mentor. It can be a circle of people you learn from—designers, founders, creatives, even customers—who each offer perspective in different ways. I have been lucky to have many of these circles and to have been blessed to work with the most amazing stylists, photographers, muas, hair stylists, models and of course, fellow designers.
The key has been building community, showing up authentically, being real and helpful, and not being afraid to seek people out who may know more than what I do. My husband often tells me that if I’m the smartest person in the room, I need to find a different room. I am always learning and it would be foolish to think that someone cannot teach me more.
Pricing:
- the coco + peach jewelry brand items are priced below $200
- forever jewelry (permanent) starts at $55-200+
- Encantada charm bar starts at $55+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cocopeachjewelry.com
- Instagram: @coco_and_peach_jewelry
- Facebook: @cocoandpeachjewelry
