Sister Style

Seven Arrows Siblings Team up to Start Mask Chain Business

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Two local elementary school girls are on a mission to help people stay safe while still feeling good about what they wear.

Ariel Adelson and her younger sister Avery have put their skills and creativity together to form their own company called Safe Styles, and, so far, they are having a blast.

The young entrepreneurs even thought of a motto: Stay Safe and Be Stylish.

As the two explained on their newly launched website, if a person needs to remove their mask to have a sip of water or eat lunch, or if someone doesn’t want to put it down where it can be forgotten or collect germs—that’s where Safe Styles fits in.

“When we went back to school and masks were mandatory, we saw a need to make it convenient for teachers, students and anyone really who needs to keep their mask clean and germ free,” explained 9-year old Ariel, a fourth-grader at Seven Arrows Elementary School. “My sister and I create mask chains to help inspire people to be safe while looking good. We call our business Safe Styles by the ‘Adelluv Sisters’ since our last name is Adelson and we have lots of love to share.”

Angela De Silva, director at Palisades Montessori Center, was so impressed that she contacted the Palisadian-Post upon learning that the siblings of one of her students were making mask chains and selling them.

“They began this business in quarantine and are really doing well with it,” De Silva said. “The quality is wonderful. A number of teachers have purchased chains at our school and absolutely love them.”

Their mother Michelle elaborated on the genesis of the company: “When my 3-year-old son Alden wore one of their masks to school, he was asked where he got it and he said, ‘My sisters made it.’ They started the business in January when they went back to school, just handing out order forms in class and on bulletin boards.”

Asked what she wants to be when she grows up, Ariel said without hesitation “a Broadway actress.”

Well on her way to a career in theater, she takes numerous drama classes and is in the performance group at Fancy Feet, along with her sister, learning all types of dance—from ballet to ballroom, jazz, Irish, tap, hip hop and modern.

Ariel started developing her business acumen helping a kombucha vendor on Sunday at the Pacific Palisades Farmers Market. She stopped once the pandemic hit, but he still supports her and is going to sell Ariel and Avery’s mask chains along with his tea drinks.

“With Safe Styles, you can keep your mask on you, flip it around when you’re not using it to reveal a lovely necklace and keep your mask free from food and other stuff,” Ariel added. “So overall, you’ll be safer, while being stylish too. We have many styles to meet different tastes, for kids and grown-ups.”

“I’m the younger one,” chimed in 6-year-old Avery, a first-grader at Seven Arrows who enjoys dancing, arts and crafts, and beading. “I love to bead bracelets and necklaces. We make them all by ourselves, they’re fun to make and we like to talk while we’re working.”

“We’ve made about 60 so far,” Ariel added. “It takes me around 35 minutes and her about 30 minutes to make one. Avery is really good. She’s faster than me.”

Their online shop page offers three collections: Energy Stone (with designs called Walk on the Moon, Ocean Breeze, Green Leaves, Paris at Night, Rainforest, Sky Light and Natural Wonder); Petite (with Starry Night, Rock-on, Twilight and Scarlett Skies); and Pretty in Pearls (Traditional, Rose Gold, Blue Elegance and Moonlight).

The girls share three passions—clean oceans, taking care of wildlife and preserving the planet—and they donate 10% of their proceeds to charity. They offer a one-week turnaround, as well as local delivery or shipping.

“Working together has made us closer,” Ariel shared as Avery nodded in agreement. “It also feels good knowing we’re helping people during COVID and contributing to causes we believe in.”

Running a business from their home in the Highlands has been a learning experience, as proud mom Michelle attested: “School on Zoom 9-3 puts you in a trance, but one of the side effects is that you can do a project. As a parent it’s nice to see they’re learning to create systems and learning the basics of business, like how to manage profits and put money back into the company. We’re also getting some things published.”

Ariel’s personal favorite is Walk on the Moon while Avery’s top choices include Sky Light and Ocean Breeze.

“We get a lot of advice from our brother too,” Avery said. “He likes wearing a lot of the ones we make and gives us ideas for new patterns.

For more information about Safe Styles, send an email to hello@adelluv.com, message them on Instagram: @safestyles.adelluv, visit the website at adelluv.com or call 310-826-7422.