Designers / Industry

Lark & Berry Honors Infertility Awareness Month With New Collection

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Talking about infertility can be challenging for some people and nearly impossible for others, and jewelry designer Laura Chavez knows about that painful silence.

Chavez is the founder of Lark & Berry, a London-based jewelry brand whose latest collection, Rainbow Veto, is a tribute to Chavez’s son, Noah, a so-called “rainbow baby,” as she had him after experiencing infertility and pregnancy loss.

The new collection ties into World Infertility Awareness Month in June: Lark & Berry is donating a portion of proceeds from its sales to a charity that focuses on fertility-related research and support. Rainbow Veto’s rings, pendants, and earrings feature lab-grown diamonds and sapphires in vibrant colors that symbolize hope and resilience, Chavez says.

Laura Chavez
Laura Chavez, founder of Lark & Berry, experienced infertility and pregnancy loss before the birth of her “rainbow baby,” Noah.

“For me, crafting a collection of jewelry, something I genuinely love, has become a means of becoming that woman who can openly share her story,” Chavez says. “I hope to inspire and help others realize that it is indeed possible to overcome these difficulties. I want to show that there is a network of support available to them, even in the most personal and intimate aspects of their lives.”

Chavez spoke with JCK about why she chose to share her infertility experience and her jewelry designs.

I always think personal stories like yours make for the best jewelry—but they can be tough to share. How did you decide to do it?

Thank you for acknowledging the difficulty in sharing infertility stories. It’s something I still struggle with, questioning whether I should even be sharing my own journey. However, during the challenging times, I found solace in following various individuals on social media who were also navigating the path of infertility or had experienced the joy of welcoming their rainbow babies—a term I came to learn through these online communities.

Listening to these women and witnessing their journeys provided me with immense support and strength. It made me believe that I too could overcome the obstacles and find the resilience within myself. I made a personal promise that if, and when, I was blessed with my rainbow baby, I would create a pendant that would commemorate this deeply significant milestone. It was my way of expressing gratitude to the world and acknowledging that I would create something extraordinary as a token of appreciation.

I understand the intimate nature of these struggles, as I didn’t even disclose my pregnancy to most people, including some members of my immediate family. The fear of something going wrong was overpowering. However, I hold great admiration for the women who have the strength to share their complete journey, as they bring awareness and support to others facing similar challenges.

What can you tell me about having your rainbow baby?

After two early losses and almost two years of struggle, Noah has brought immense love and taught me the true meaning of motherhood. Feeling him kick inside me and holding him in my arms made me understand the depth of a mother’s love. He’s 1 now, and time has flown by. Being a single full-time working mom has its challenges, but Noah motivates me to overcome them. He is my inspiration.

What do you hope other women and parents can understand about infertility through your work?

I’m endeavoring to let women know that it’s perfectly all right to express themselves regarding infertility struggles. I want them to understand that these struggles are more widespread than we often acknowledge. For example, when celebrities like Chrissy Teigen, Meghan Markle or Michelle Obama share their own stories, I find that brave and encouraging to do so.

For those unfamiliar with the struggle, it may seem that it is simple for others to open up about their issues, but when someone is living it, it takes courage to open up and be prepared for what people’s reactions might be. In my case, when I read or hear about someone else’s journey, I find a sense of support and reassurance—knowing that others have faced similar situations and have ultimately triumphed can instill immense hope. In the process of trying to create awareness, I am creating pieces one can wear to remind themselves that they endured a lot, but that it was ultimately worth it. That’s the message I want to amplify through my work.

How did you design these pieces?

While the idea of wearing jewelry of a child’s name or shape of gender is endearing, I felt compelled to create something more personally meaningful.… I enhanced the pendant’s size to accommodate a beautiful blend of colored sapphires and lab-grown diamonds. The outcome was a piece that I fell in love with, not just for its beauty but for the deeper significance it held for me.

I designed a rainbow ring and also created variations of the pendant with different color schemes, not necessarily adhering to the traditional full rainbow spectrum. I included pieces that lean towards specific color palettes. For instance, there are pendants featuring a spectrum of reds and pinks or blues and greens. These color selections could traditionally symbolize a specific gender of a baby, if that’s how someone wishes to commemorate their journey.

Top: Jewelry in Lark & Berry’s Rainbow Veto collection, which founder Laura Chavez debuted in June for World Infertility Awareness Month to honor people who experience infertility or pregnancy loss and symbolize resilience (photos courtesy of Lark & Berry)

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Karen Dybis

By: Karen Dybis

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