Hleziphansi Zita
With jewelry that’s been worn by Solange and carried in boutiques all over the US— Hleziphansi Zita the designer of the elegant and sculptural jewelry line, Nandi Naya, stays busy. An artist and mother of two, Lezi’s calm attitude towards life’s challenges is an inspiring reminder to keep on keeping on. I particularly appreciate her statement below when talking about big dreams, “We visualize, speak it to existence and we DO.”
photo for Primary Paper by Ben Grieme
How would you describe what you do?
Nandi Naya Jewelry brand is handmade to compliment the modernist woman. Metals are shaped into powerful, sculptural silhouettes.
How do you deal with the continual ebb and flow of “success” as a creative person?
Keep creating.
When is a time you felt really successful? Or a time you felt like you failed?
Success for me is having the smallest acknowledgment of being a jewelry designer when someone repost my work, or simply getting a complement from a stranger but the highlight for me is when Solange supported my brand..
What is your biggest struggle as a person in creative industry?
Feeling like I have to continuously prove myself in the era of glamorized narrative that now proliferates in social media.I notice this is how most boutiques and retailers select designers for their shops.
How do you motivate yourself to actually get things done and/or maintain some level of productivity?
I am a mother of two and my time is mostly taken up with them. I find my time to create late night or early morning. If I am doing a simple task like beading I include my six year old.
How do you manage the stress/anxiety that’s inevitable with putting yourself out there?
I just deal and let go.
How do you know when it’s time to rest?
It's always time to rest especially when your a mother of two who homeschools and has a jewelry business. We take naps after lessons. We have days when we stay home just to catch up on resting and being in tune with oneself.
What’s your big dream? Do you have one? How do you set goals/set yourself up to achieve?
My biggest dream has nothing to do with my career of choice but to be on our land that we purchased this year in Costa Rica. We are on the beginning process of designing a sustainable home. We visualize, speak it to existence and we DO!!!
How do you deal with people not liking you, liking your ideas or being jealous of you?
I can really care less, it’s all perspective.
follow Nandi Naya on instagram or shop her jewels here