Permanent jewelry is one way The Source Studio celebrates boldness and individuality. Courtesy of The Sourced Studio.

When the world shut down in 2020, Tania Reyes found herself wandering the aisles of Michaels art supply store, pliers in hand. Back home, she started experimenting with chains and jewelry. 

“I had this idea of, ‘why not sell it?’” Reyes said. “And that kind of just snowballed.”

That “snowball” is The Sourced Studio, an accessories brand that celebrates Latinx and youth culture, as well as community and self-expression. Founded four years ago, The Sourced Studio is in part a love letter to Reyes’ Dominican heritage and a platform for underrepresented voices. From permanent jewelry welded around customers’ wrists to customizable charm bars and statement pieces like the “Rich Bitch Ring,” The Sourced Studio is a celebration of boldness and individuality.

From Michaels to market

With a background in fashion production and a lifelong creative streak, Reyes has always been drawn to the world of design. “I either wanted to be two things. I wanted to be a fashion designer or Shakira,” she said, laughing. “I grew up to be neither.”

As a young girl, she would take trips to the local Joann craft store in Long Island, where she grew up in a Dominican community. 

Reyes’ designs have always been inspired by music and her heritage. Credit: Chris & Becca Nelson

Years later, Reyes’ penchant for visiting art supply stores would lead to a jewelry brand. The Sourced Studio’s initial pop-up in Greenpoint netted zero sales, but Reyes didn’t let the setback deter her. “It was almost the most discouraging thing ever, but … it teaches you a lot,” she said.

A brand rooted in culture

The Sourced Studio carries a commitment to celebrating culture and community. Reyes’ Hispanic Heritage Month collection is a testament to this mission. Her grandmother and uncles became the unwitting stars of the collection. “I went to my family party … and was like, ‘hey guys, here I am with a selfie light, can you stand over here?’” she said. “Social media loved it. It was so authentic.”

The brand’s flag necklaces, which represent countries from Mexico to Trinidad, are particularly meaningful. For each necklace sold, The Sourced Studio partners with a nonprofit from that country, donating a portion of the proceeds to women-owned businesses in Oaxaca and youth programs in the Dominican Republic.

A ‘Sourced’ community

For Reyes, The Sourced Studio is a space for connection and collaboration. “We celebrate where we come from. We celebrate who supports us,” Reyes said. “We never forget where we come from.”

Pop-ups have been a key part of the brand’s growth, offering a chance to meet customers face-to-face and build relationships with other small business owners. “New York is big, but New York is also very small,” Reyes said. “Everyone knows everyone, especially at pop-ups. And you just build so much friendship with other vendors, and you understand each other.” 

Cultural pride is at the core of The Sourced Studio’s jewelry. Courtesy of The Sourced Studio.

What’s next for The Sourced Studio

Reyes has plans for The Sourced Studio to branch out. The brand is expanding into men’s jewelry and continuing to grow its permanent jewelry offerings, which allow customers to “live” with their pieces—whether it’s a bracelet, anklet, or necklace, taking them in the shower or pool.

For Reyes, the most rewarding part of running The Sourced Studio is the creative freedom it allows — how it connects her to the joy of the Shakira-inspired designs and the hot-glued mini-skirt of her youth. “I love creating something from scratch,” she said. 

She also loves meeting people who feel represented by what she does and said her customers are often pleasantly surprised when they see she has Peruvian, Trinidadian, and other worldwide flags. The Sourced Studio has a pop-up during New York Fashion Week on Feb. 1 in Bushwick, where they’ll be celebrating with a Bad Bunny-inspired photo activation.

Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

For anyone thinking about starting their own business, Reyes’ advice is simple: just start. “No one knows what they’re doing,” she said. “Even the most confident people started somewhere. It might not have been perfect, it might not have been pretty, but you started. And that’s the most important part.”

The Sourced Studio

Follow on Instagram at @thesourcedstudio

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Shop online here

This post has been updated.

Read more of our small business stories here.

Epicenter NYC is experimenting with using AI as a way of increasing the ways we are able to help our community. This interview was done by a member of the editorial team. We then used AI to generate a written story. The story was then edited by a member of our editorial team. 

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