Meet Lepa Galeb-Roskopp, entrepreneur, jewelry designer, and true global citizen. Launching a business is no easy feat and in 2014 she embarked on a journey to build a unique fine jewelry brand, Misahara (the name was formed by melding her children’s names together: Mara, Sara, and Harrison).
The Collections are inspired by Lepa’s journey through life. Every piece is handcrafted in New York City and tells the story of her passion for nature, her connection with other cultures, and her drive to create a better world with the underlying ethos of Unity found in and around many of her designs. Lepa’s strong commitment to philanthropy is also reflected in her designs, which have proudly made an impact around the globe through various charitable initiatives.
She is equally as zealous about the raw materials she selects to create her pieces. Sustainably sourced stones and fair-trade metals are an unshakeable priority for Lepa, and in the ateliers, she chooses to execute on her vision so that her clients can be confident the pieces they select are not only impeccably crafted but also impeccably sourced – with a conscience.
Every Collection is an expression of Lepa’s passions brought to life and evoke an emotion in the wearer that tells their own story through Misahara’s jewelry.
Her creativity in designing jewelry is evident but an equally impressive side to Lepa can be seen through her tenacity in forming highly coveted partnerships to further Misahara’s brand reach. For the past four years, Misahara has been the exclusive fine jewelry partner for Ferrari North America. The brand has collaborated with one of the world’s most well known and respected emerald mines, Gemfields. Lepa’s designs have been worn by A-list celebrities year after year, from Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Kerry Washington, and Taylor Swift, etc.
In your own words, what do you do?
I am a jewelry designer, entrepreneur, mother, and wife. Professionally, I am an artist that creates jewelry from different inspirations that I have experienced along my journey through life. I think of myself as a nonconformist and I like to blaze my own path without letting society dictate to me what is ‘normal’. It took me a while to be able to convey my point of view without upsetting the traditional value system in which I was raised. I do not believe in barriers, just obstacles, and opportunities. I pride myself in being able to accomplish any task because I am not afraid of authority or conventional mindsets and rules.
How did you actually start making and selling jewelry for a living?
I created my jewelry brand, Misahara, from scratch. I left a lucrative family business to start one of my greatest adventures, building my Company. I have always loved fashion and design and felt drawn to follow that passion and express it in the fine jewelry space. After consideration and encouragement from my family, I went to NYC with a blank slate and started by finding an Atelier who could bring my ideas to life. I spent weeks and months learning the trade and watching our manufacturing team.
I am a visual learner so being there in person helped me to really understand how jewelry goes from an idea to a wearable piece of art. I started by designing couture one-of-a-kind pieces because those larger than life designs just happened to be what my inspirations were leading me to create. Once the first Collections came to life, we began the process of finding customers through various events, outreach to retailers, working with a press team, and creating partnerships with amazing brands around the world that could help further spread the word of Misahara. We certainly came across many obstacles but always pushed forward and continued with our mission. It is important to stay focused on your goal but remember that it is critical to pivot and evolve your business. Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day, but if you stay the path all roads will lead there.
Tell us about your design style. What makes your Collection unique in the industry?
The inspiration for my design style comes from my lifestyle, and that is being able to travel and live in different parts of the world. The highest level of creation comes from nature, which I love, because it keeps me humble and grounded. I’m especially drawn to water – the Pacific and Indian Ocean, Adriatic Sea. When something is so powerful and beautiful and at the same time so pure, it is then easy to get inspired and make jewelry come to life. I feel that what makes my jewelry unique is the fact that I never look at what others are doing. I love seeing what’s out there; what’s trendy and in, but at the end of the day, I always go with my gut and create what I believe my customers will love.
What kind of person wears your jewelry?
A person that is confident and comfortable in their own skin; has a unique style and uses our jewelry to enhance her both inner and outer beauty.
As a designer, where do you draw your inspiration from?
If I had to pick just one – it would definitely be Mother Nature. I love solitude and nature is where I feel most alive. It began from an early age where I’d spend hours in nature to today where whenever I’m free, I go mountain biking, cannoning and hiking.
If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career, what would it be?
Trust with caution. I always want to believe the best in people, but more often than not, that’s far from reality. This is especially true in the business world that is highly competitive and where people live by the “the goal justify the means”. I was not raised to be like that, so I’d definitely tell my younger self to be less naïve and stay focused on my dreams.
What advice would you have for aspiring jewelry designers?
To always follow your heart. The times will come when you’ll feel like you won’t make it, but as that famous song says “Dust yourself off and try again”. Never let others tell what you can & cannot do, believe in yourself and never ever give up on your dreams.
What are your current areas of focus?
Currently, we are focusing on launching beautiful new Collections that are suited for eCommerce and connecting with customers digitally. Since 2020 has been such a life-changing year for everyone, personally and professionally, we made some adjustments to our areas of focus. Typically, we spend the year travelling to various events where we engage with our clients. Since travelling and events are not in the cards, right now, we are finding new and creative ways to connect with customers.
Share with us some tips on how to find the jewelry style that fits you.
Ditch the rules. Don’t let the fashion industry dictate what you should be wearing and how. As our slogan says, it’s all about how does your jewelry makes you feel?
If I feel like wearing jewelry with my swimwear – absolutely I will. If I feel like wearing my cocktail ring with a plain t-shirt and jeans, no one can stop me. If you feel good in your own skin, your jewelry is going to amplify that.
To what do you attribute your success?
As I mentioned earlier, it is really about not giving up when times get tough, and they will. Doing what you love in today’s world is truly a gift, and when that happens, we owe it to ourselves to give everything we have to make it work. And it will.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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