Peggy Li’s signature California necklaces have long been favorites among costume designers, making appearances in many famous films and TV series. losangeleska shares more about the jeweler’s life and her Hollywood projects.
Who is Peggy Li?
She grew up in the small Northern California city of Santa Rosa. For over 20 years, she has been creating and designing handmade jewelry. It’s fascinating to learn when and how this interest first sparked.
Li attended the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Chemical Engineering. Peggy Li’s parents sincerely believed and dreamed that their daughter would become a doctor, lawyer, or scientist. For them, these were considered “real jobs.”
Peggy Li decided to choose an entirely different path. She was drawn to wandering Telegraph Avenue, checking out handcrafted goods. The artisans from Telegraph inspired a pivotal step: creating jewelry herself. Initially, these were simple stone earrings made for family and close friends. It was during this time that the foundation for Peggy Li Creations was laid.
It’s worth noting that Peggy’s parents eventually embraced her choice, becoming her most devoted supporters.
Life and Work in Los Angeles
Peggy Li first moved to Los Angeles, but later returned to the Bay Area to work at Electronic Arts. During this time, Peggy Li Creations was developing, albeit slowly and organically. For Peggy, this period is associated with incredible development and growth. For instance, her designs were featured in publications like The Los Angeles Times, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, and TeenVogue. Her jewelry work also began to gain attention on television.
While living and working in Los Angeles, and engaging in writing, she met a costume designer from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” This iconic American youth TV series marked the beginning of her Hollywood jewelry story.
Jewelry on the Big and Small Screen
Peggy Li’s jewelry has become part of the looks of many heroines in popular TV series and films. They add charm, sophistication, and individuality to their styles.
Li’s pieces can be spotted in several other productions:
- “Riverdale”: Viewers may have noticed the designer’s black spinel necklace worn by Veronica Lodge, played by Camila Mendes. The piece highlights the mysterious character’s exquisite taste and enigmatic quality.
- “The Bold Type,” “Elementary,” “The Bachelorette”: Peggy Li’s jewelry in these shows added refinement and elegance to the heroines. Thanks to the well-chosen accessories, the looks became complete and stylish.
- “The Vampire Diaries”: Pieces from Peggy Li can be seen on lead heroine Elena Gilbert, played by Nina Dobrev, and on the character Caroline Forbes, played by Candice King. These accessories added even more charm to their images.
- “Sex and the City”: For example, Miranda Hobbes, played by Cynthia Nixon, can also be seen wearing jewelry by the renowned designer. Her looks in the series appear sophisticated, largely thanks to Peggy Li’s contributions.
Peggy Li’s designer jewelry and handcrafted pieces have also been featured in magazines like Oprah Magazine and Life & Style.
Hollywood Celebrities Who Choose Peggy Li Jewelry
Many Hollywood celebrities choose this jeweler’s creations for special occasions as well as for everyday life.
- Talented actress Nancy O’Dell. She looks more elegant and feminine when wearing the brand’s jewelry.
- Jessica Wan at the San Francisco premiere of the film “Seoul Searching.”
- Candice Patton, who plays Iris West on The Flash.
- Supermodel Lara Stone, who starred in The Black Keys’ music video for “Weight of Love,” directed by Theo Wenner.
- Asian-American actress Vivian Bang, who played Susan in the TBS television show Sullivan & Son, created by comedian Steve Byrne.
- Emily Morse from the Bravo TV show Miss Advised, who also hosts her own advice podcast, “Sex With Emily.”
- Jessica Lu, who starred in the TV show Reverie. She wears Peggy Li’s jewelry at official events and in social media posts.
California: A Source of Inspiration
Peggy Li has shared that her native state inspires her because of its abundant natural beauty: wooded mountains, wide-open deserts, and sandy ocean beaches. Beyond nature, California is home to people from many different cultures. According to the jeweler, her projects are simple, colorful, and versatile precisely because of California’s beauty.
Here are a few examples of her work:
- The “California Lovin'” charm necklace, inspired by the West Coast.
- The “Li’s Rosette” necklace. The piece is named after her hometown of Santa Rosa. Importantly, 25% of the proceeds from the sale of the Li’s Rosette necklace are directed to the Redwood Empire Food Bank. This is her way of supporting the food bank in her hometown to help families in need.
Handmade Jewelry Commitment
Peggy Li is often asked why she is drawn to handmade jewelry. In interviews, she explained that from a young age, she was interested in designs she had never seen before. That’s why the process of creating minimalist and exquisite designs that make women feel beautiful makes her happy.
The process of creating something entirely new is equally fascinating. Peggy Li sources materials and components for her future jewelry from around the world. She personally selects, assembles, or handcrafts every piece. Interestingly, the jeweler only works with ethical companies and artisans to produce eco-friendly jewelry. This is not just an aspiration but a concrete action. For example, she uses minimal packaging for shipping orders and recycles all metal scrap.
What You Need to Know About Peggy Li Creations
- Jewelry Care Tips: Heat, moisture, perfumes, and exposure to other substances can cause a chemical reaction with the jewelry, leading to tarnishing. Peggy Li recommends removing jewelry before swimming or bathing. It should not be stored in the bathroom. Pieces are shipped in reusable zip-lock bags, which are an excellent way to safely store the jewelry.
- Lost Earrings: If you lose one earring, for example, it is impossible to order an identical single replacement. Because all items are handcrafted, an exact match cannot be guaranteed, but you can send the remaining earring to Peggy Li for her to create a new pair.
- Eco-Friendly Practices: The jeweler creates sustainable pieces. To achieve this, Peggy Li works with US manufacturers and those who believe in fair wages and environmentally friendly practices. For her jewelry, she uses 14-karat gold-filled silver, sterling and fine silver, Bali silver, and genuine karat gold. She recycles metal scrap and uses boxes and packaging materials made from recycled content. When possible, she reuses packaging materials.
Peggy Li’s Passions
According to the designer and jeweler, everyone possesses artistic talents, but the challenge lies in expressing them. For example, she never would have imagined that she would be making jewelry, some of which would become part of the history of Hollywood films and TV series.
Her hobbies are not limited to jewelry. Peggy Li is interested in the work of a screenwriter, an entomologist (someone who studies insects), and a pastry chef. In her free time, she watches movies and reality shows, tastes new dishes, and plays golf.
Peggy Li is constantly improving herself by learning new techniques for making handmade jewelry. Furthermore, she helps other small business owners.