Check Out Ayele Atayi’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayele Atayi.

Hi Ayele; we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I knew I had a love for the fashion world. Especially jewelry, a must staple in my style. At 14, I knew I wanted to step into the world of being an artist, not just any artist a jewelry designer. Yeah, that’s it! My first love. However, as I got older, the sound of becoming a jeweler fainted but was not forgotten. Instead, I focused on my studies and became an MRI technologist—I still am. But Guess what?! The love of jewelry remained in my heart. In 2020, after completing my degree. I embarked on a soul-searching journey where I devised a plan to start my jewelry collection. In that journal, I wrote until I came up with how to start. With just $100, I bought my first tools, wire, and freshwater pearls and got to work. I got stuck, of course, because I had no clue how I would start making it if I didn’t even know the basics. I scrambled but quickly reminded myself that YouTube and learning jewelry books were available for me to use. So I did! It took me just 6 months to create my first pair of green glass beads hoops, peal hoops, and gold chain pearl earrings. When I was sure, I was ready. In 2021 JoñuYè Jewelries launched, selling out of all items.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There were challenges along the way, such as self-doubt, comparisons, and remaining focused on my career. With everything consuming me, I paused JoñuYè for a while and almost wanted to quit because I no longer had the motivation to keep up. I was way in over my head, I thought. I can’t do this, I thought, and so I believed. We are often our own worst critics. One day, I was meditating on what I should do, and a design came to mind. I quickly grabbed my pad and started drawing. I bought the materials and made 24 pieces of my most requested earrings, “ Tiny but Mighty.”

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a jeweler, owner, and founder of JoñuYè — pronounced: “ Jo- nu-yay.” “ Jonu” means jewelry in my native tongue; Amina and “Ye” is my nickname. Combined would be “Ye’s jewelry .” My work is stationed around all types of Pearls, Gemstones, Gold, and Silver. My jewelry is known for being subtle and uniquely detailed .and designed.

What am I most proud of?
This question was tough for me to answer because I am most hard on myself and often don’t praise myself. I pondered and meditated on this question for 30 min; I am proud that despite the crippling thoughts of fear— I mustered the courage to start pursuing my first love. I am pleased to have launched JoñuYè to create uniquely versatile, beautiful pieces I would like to call “ Wearable Art”! If I can do it, You can too.

We’d love to hear about your fond memories of growing up.
My favorite childhood memory was designing my garments for our family tailors to sow. I would sneak into my mother’s room and her jewelry box. It was gigantic—nothing mattered at that moment. In that jewelry box, I was the happiest child in the world. After taking a couple, I would match them up against her newly sown garments to style to this day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JonuYe
• Instagram: @jonu.ye
• Facebook: jonu.ye