Glitteray jewellery: Supporting community and craftsmanship

Glitteray is a vertically-integrated e-commerce business with direct distribution that designs, 

manufactures and sells silver and semi-precious jewellery. The 

business was founded by Rayhana Iyne. Glitteray’s core value is to create an awareness and bring together a community to support and value craftsmanship. Glitteray remains committed in crafting and selling ethical jewellery. Each piece is handcrafted meticulously with carefully selected gemstones from Sri Lanka. Their timeless designs are meant to be worn year-round and are inspired by the strong historical legacy and modern themes of our island’s rich history and culture. They stand firm in their belief that fashion should be neither fast nor disposable. Following are excerpts of an interview:

Q: What are the highlights and challenges at Glitteray?

A: The greatest challenge, and opportunity, was building this impactful business, which started with only myself at home and one craftsmen. Glitteray has evolved incredibly to become the leader in the silver jewellery category. We are proud to say that we sell locally-made products.

We currently employ nine craftsmen and work closely with local technical institutions to train and hire our craftsmen. This way we can help to grow and nurture this community.

The highlight is the small wins we have every day. Every time we are able to hire craftsmen and have new employees on board, it is a win-win situation for us.  It shows that our business is growing and that both staff and consumers believe in our product and company.

Q: What advice can you offer to women who want to start their own business?

A: Find your purpose and set goals. It will keep you committed to the work that you do. Mine is designing jewellery that people feel connected to. I believe that you need to love what you do; it can be both work and personal life. If you are passionate about what you do, the sky’s the limit.

Q: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career to date?

A: One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to stay true to your voice. When you can take your passion and turn it into a business because you are completely true to your vision, then you’re in alignment with your life’s purpose.

Don’t focus on any of the background noise. “You can’t sell jewellery online,” “no one will buy jewellery online” – I have heard these often enough that I used it as a driving mechanism to prove them all wrong. If I listened to all of that noise I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Q: What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

A: I think there is a lack of promoting and nurturing the individual spirit that women have. 

Q: How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

A: Mentorship has made all the difference in our company. I believe that multi-layered support across the organisation and peer-to-peer is important. It allows true creativity to flourish and accelerates growth.

Q: Who are the female leaders you admire and why?

A: I admire Sara McCartney. She turned her passion of fashion and sustainability into a multimillion dollar empire by inspiring women to make smart choices in their purchases. That says a lot about her integrity and values.

Q: What do you want Glitteray to accomplish in the next year?

A: I believe that Glitteray is redefining a traditional brick-and-mortar industry. We have been an industry disruptor. Buying a piece of jewellery is now as easy as a click of a mouse button with island-wide delivery and a two-week exchange policy. There is no need to walk into stores and wait to be served by a sales person. We are saving both time and money for our consumers, which are two important things. We have proven and built a sustainable business model and product that consumers want.

We plan to increase local distribution in the next six months. We want to give our customers a seamless user experience both locally and internationally. I want Glitteray to create a global impact.