The twin duo behind Lizzie Fortunato like to say that the “sum of the pieces is greater than its parts,” a mantra that echoes through their jewelry and also their partnership. Identical twins, the two started their jewelry line while attending Duke University, with Lizzie designing the jewelry for her namesake line and Kathryn providing the business acumen. Their eclectic jewelry combines materials in unexpected ways, layering threading with recycled precious metals and braided leather to create statement pieces with a distinctly global look.

The twins started selling Lizzie’s jewelry in their Duke University dorm rooms, holding trunk shows twice a year to make money for a very college cause—spring break. As word started to spread among stylish sorority sisters and students, the sisters found themselves almost unable to keep up with demand. “We would do a trunk show on a Sunday evening, and in 25 minutes, every piece of jewelry would be sold out,” explains Kathryn. “It was extraordinary. All of a sudden, Lizzie would be at home fulfilling orders, and I would attend her classes.”

Despite their success, the sisters each decided to concentrate on “real jobs” after college: banking for Kathryn and fashion PR for Lizzie. But with ex-Duke classmates still clamoring for pieces, it wasn’t long before Lizzie took the plunge and made Lizzie Fortunato jewelry her fulltime gig in 2007 with Kathryn following in 2010.  Since then, Lizzie Fortunato has expanded into bags and the twins are now concentrated on expanding their offerings to lifestyle products sourced from their travels. “We want to make accessible the products we find in our travels, whether its textiles from Peru, embroidery from India, or ceramics from Tokyo,” Kathryn says. “It’s about celebrating the craft and handiwork which, in our mass-produced world, is struggling to survive.”