Chrissie Lam transformed her corporate fashion expertise into The Love Is Project, a sustainable jewelry brand creating jobs for artisan women globally. Here’s how she went from questioning her corporate success to launching a movement that appeared on Shark Tank.
The Starting Point
After 12 years as a concept designer and trend forecaster for major fashion brands, Chrissie had achieved what many would consider a dream job. But when she sat down with me for a coaching session, she was at a crossroads, unsure of which opportunity to pursue.
“I told Lydia about the crossroads I was at and chatted about the Love Is project and this other idea I’d had to help supply electric scooters to people in Bali, but she helped me focus on one idea.”
The Challenge
Like many accomplished professionals, Chrissie faced several hurdles:
- Leaving a successful 12-year corporate career
- Figuring out how to merge fashion with social impact
- Building a sustainable business model that creates real change
- Navigating partnerships with major retailers
- Learning to trust her path as a social entrepreneur
The Journey
During our work together, we focused on leveraging her existing expertise instead of starting from scratch:
“Lydia helped me see that I should turn my attention back to The Love Is Project with concrete examples/case studies. I had already done so much of the leg work and not to drop it now. Crucially, she made me realize the steps I needed to take to get it off the ground as an online store.”
Instead of taking an all-or-nothing approach, Chrissie:
- Started with a 3-month sabbatical to explore opportunities
- Created a social media campaign that went viral
- Built partnerships with artisan groups globally
- Pitched major retailers with proof of concept
- Developed a book showcasing stories of love worldwide
The Transformation
Through our coaching work and her commitment to a more meaningful path, Chrissie was able to:
- Create Real Impact: Generated over 400 jobs for artisan women
- Build Major Partnerships: Launched in American Eagle and Whole Foods
- Scale Her Vision: Sold over 20,000 bracelets in just two months
- Maintain Creative Freedom: Appeared on Shark Tank but chose independence
Lydia helped me to reframe and steer me in the direction to allowed me to restructure my business model. I feel more empowered than I ever have before.
Chrissie
Today’s Reality
Today, The Love Is Project has evolved from a personal photo project into a global movement. After appearing on Shark Tank and choosing to maintain independence, Chrissie’s business has skyrocketed:
- Featured in Oprah Magazine and worn by celebrities like Jeff Bridges
- Creates sustainable income for artisan communities worldwide
- Operates with a “work from home” model that empowers local artisans
“For me it’s like merging both things – fashion and philanthropy or design and development. I think the idea is just looking at what people currently do and how to make it better.”
The business has grown beyond just creating products – it’s now funding community initiatives led by the artisans themselves:
“In Indonesia, the mother-daughter team we work with said ‘we have a lot of pollution in our village, we want to be able to clean this up.’ We funded that waste bank and recycling program, and it’s created 12 jobs. The village is clean now… That’s the idea – we want to give agency to the artisans to tell us what they need.”
Rather than owning factories or enforcing traditional supply chains, Chrissie has built a model that prioritizes artisan empowerment:
“I don’t have factories, people work from home… I don’t have to be owning anything. We can help invest in giving the women agency or the artisan agency to tell us what they need.”
Chrissie’s Advice for Others
For those considering a similar journey, Chrissie emphasizes:
- Take calculated risks and explore while you still have stability
- Focus on what you’re genuinely good at and passionate about
- Build strategic partnerships that align with your values
- Trust that making an impact and making money can coexist
Ready to Write Your Own Success Story?
If you’re ready to build a business that merges your expertise with meaningful impact, let’s talk.
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