We’re looking forward to introducing you to Peggy Li. Check out our conversation below.
Peggy, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Thank you for helping share my story! I totally agree that worldviews can only be broadened if we share and maybe more importantly, listen, to other peoples’ journeys. While my work is based in a creative field, I have recently picked up another one – ceramics! Taking pottery classes, working with clay and at the potter’s wheel has been really satisfying. It makes me stretch different creative muscles, challenges me to learn something completely new, allows me to play with new tools and I’m loving it. I also tend to thrive with structure, so taking a class actually brings out the achiever in me and I am really productive in that environment! I am also meeting a whole new set of people and it’s been so inspiring to observe and learn from other peoples’ processes.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, I’m Peggy Li and I’ve had my jewelry business Peggy Li Creations, based in San Francisco, for over 20 years! I was making jewelry for myself while living and working in Los Angeles when I met the costume designer for the television show Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Cynthia Bergstrom – she used some of my jewelry work on that iconic TV show and the rest is history. I still have those original Buffy jewelry designs available in my shop!
Over the years I’ve really treasured the collaboration I’ve been able to have with costume designers in film and TV and they are so important for my small business. To date, my jewelry designs have been in film and on dozens of TV shows, including most recently this season on Elsbeth starring Carrie Preston (costume designer Daniel Lawson) and in Hallmark holiday movie A Newport Christmas (costume designer Keith Nielsen).
I love making simple, feminine jewelry designs with a modern edge. I find inspiration all around me but especially from the gemstones and materials I work with. Because I’m a small, independant handmade jewelry brand, I have the freedom to make what I want, when I want, so I love going down different design paths and learning new techniques as I go along.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I was a good student as a child. I think a big part of that is being the child of immigrants – my parents worked so hard and faced so much adversity coming to this country to build a better life for their families and for themselves. They instilled in me the value of education and working hard, but even more importantly, they dared to dream.
My earliest memory of feeling powerful occurred in elementary school – being the best among my classmates at multiplication tables. It was myself and a bunch of boys. At that moment, I felt truly powerful. Things that traditionally were against me – being female, being non-white – suddenly no longer mattered. I had found a way I could prove myself, distinguish myself and create an identity for myself. Wanting to achieve, whether in academics or the arts, became powerful fuel as knowledge and skills built my confidence and that itself is empowering.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
Although I achieved academically, what really was my escape as a child was my creative side. Curiosity and fulfilling that curiosity brought meaning and stability when sometimes the world didn’t seem that stable. This could be finding books in the library about French cooking or building home made ant farms or it was writing stories about my favorite TV characters. At a certain point, I was expected to go far academically so it is interesting how today I have a creative business as a career instead (I studied Bioresource Sciences at UC Berkeley)! Still, I credit all of my studies, academically and independently, for helping to build the person I am today and allowing me to find success as a jewelry maker and small business owner.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
My friend Kim Moy – she has taken her caregiving journey to create support resources for other caregivers of loved ones suffering from long-term chronic illnesses such as ME/CSF, long Covid, Lyme disease and other debilitating conditions. She lives her values and leads with compassion and determination. I’m so proud of her for turning her hardships (and successes) into a mission that will help others. At some point, caregiving will become a part of everyone’s lives. You can find out about her work and join caregiver support groups at https://www.caregiverwisdom.net/
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I attribute so much of my success (in business and in life) to my curiosity. It’s a tickle inside my brain that always wants to ask, “What is that?” and “Why not me?” and push for more information. As a result, I have been able to push away fear in favor of taking chances and taking risks. So be curious!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.peggyli.com
- Instagram: @plcpeggy
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggyli/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peggylicreations
Image Credits
Emily Kim
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