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Camila Amortegui, jewelry maker 

Charlotte girls looking to stand out from the crowd will want to check out Camila Amortegui's colorful, custom-made fringe earring collection. Amortegui, full-time graphic designer and publisher/editor of the quarterly art-centric publication Blü Magazine, crafts unique creations reflective of her lifelong passion for the arts. "I aim for cutting-edge designs that even very conservative girls can feel comfortable wearing," says Amortegui, "whether they're in Charlotte, L.A. or New York." Her line, dubbed simply Mila Jewelry, is currently available for purchase at www.mila-amor.com.

Creative Loafing: You've gotten the most attention for your "mermaid" fringe earrings. What inspired you to start making them?

Camila Amortegui: I took a fiber arts class at UNCC, and that's the best thing I ever did because that's when I really started getting into working with fibers, and that's when I designed the earrings, although I didn't start making them until this year. I made ankle-length earrings for a photo shoot this summer, and I got a really positive response, so I decided to make them in three different sizes. The mermaids are the longest and have probably gotten the most attention because they're so different from what you find in stores. I went to New York for a fashion trade show, and I got stopped by like 50 girls on the street asking me about the earrings and where I had gotten them. It was really strange.

Fringe jewelry has been done before, but mine is different for its bright colors and a special thread I use that they only sell in Mexico. I love Mexican and Central American culture, all that indigenous influence; it really inspires me. I'm originally from Bogotá, Colombia, and I really want to plan a trip to rural Colombia and find materials to work with.

You're one busy woman, wearer of many (stylish, no doubt) hats. How do you do it?

Maybe I've neglected my husband and my dogs a little bit ... just kidding, my husband totally supports it. He's involved in the arts as well, as a photographer. And my two pit bulls, the sweetest dogs ever, will just lie down and keep me company when I'm making jewelry. It's not so overwhelming because I love it so much. I like doing things with my hands because I'm on the computer all day long, so taking the time to sit down and do that kind of work helps to relax me.

What are your hopes for the line?

This is a great city to start something in, and in five years I'd like the line to be carried in 40 or more boutiques in cities across the country. I don't know how long the earrings will last as a trend, although I do have the idea to do a wedding collection, maybe some pretty pieces in ivory which I would've loved to have worn for my own wedding. I'd like to have expanded into clothing, and I'm also interested in home décor. It'd be an affordable option for new homeowners who want an artistic look to their apartment.

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