When Palisadian Jill Berman attended a baby group with her triplets 10 years ago, little did she anticipate that she would gain a best friend and future business partner in fellow mother Hillary Rosen.
Their business, Hiji Designs, founded in 2010, sells organic and natural stones uniquely set in yellow and rose gold with handmade chains and diamonds.
Their bracelets, necklaces and earrings can be found in Moondance Jewelry Gallery on Montana Avenue and at Hotel Casa del Mar in Santa Monica.
Berman, whose triplets (Max, Zachery and Zoey) now attend Village School, and Rosen, whose daughters (Olivia and Jessica) attend PS #1, stayed friends even as their children outgrew the baby group and entered different private schools.
“We often bantered around ideas for a business that would allow us the freedom to be with children when the school day ended, but still provide us with a creative and meaningful career,” said Berman, who graduated from Syracuse in 1992 with a degree in consumer economics and moved to Los Angeles a year later.
After graduating from Cal State L.A. in 1997 with a master’s degree in nutrition, she worked as a registered dietitian for several years before becoming a pharmaceutical sales representative. When her triplets were born in 2003, Berman stayed home to raise them. Her husband, Josh, is the CEO of Beachmint, an e-commerce company.
Rosen, who grew up in Rye, New York, received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University and then moved to Santa Barbara to attend the Brooks Institute of Photography. After graduating in 1996, she found work in L.A. as a freelance photographer specializing in children’s portraiture. She worked full-time until she gave birth to her oldest daughter and then part-time until her second child was born in 2005. Her husband, Glenn, is an attorney and the family lives in Brentwood.
From the day Berman and Rosen met, they felt they had lot in common, including their shoe size (7½) and shared shoes, purses and jewelry.
In the spring of 2010, stackable beaded bracelets with diamonds were one of the “must haves” for fashionable women, and the two began creating their own necklaces and bracelets.
“When family and friends saw the design, they requested similar jewelry,” Berman said, “and we kept creating numerous pieces.” Later that year they had their first successful truck show, and their company Hiji was launched (blending Hi from Hillary and Ji from Jill).
The women then convinced the owner of Broken English, a high-end jewelry store in Brentwood Country Mart on San Vicente, to carry their pieces, which sold well. The owner also encouraged Berman and Rosen to develop a more expensive fine-jewelry line, which they have done. Hiji Designs are still prominently featured at the store.
Rosen and Berman each design various pieces, but also share the business responsibilities, with Berman tracking the check/cash intake and Rosen following the expenditures.
Additionally, Rosen photographs their collection (with Berman serving as her assistant) and they attend trade shows together. “This is a true partnership, with investing and labor done 50-50,” Berman said.
“Our mission is to create designs that accentuate every woman’s own personal style,” Rosen said.
“Our goal has always been to have something for everyone,” Berman said. “A friend looking for a gift can buy a beaded necklace or a husband can buy a special necklace.”
Starting in mid-August, Hiji beaded jewelry will be featured on Jewelmint.com in the collective section.
Visit: hijidesigns.com
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