Aspen is full of small businesses that become local favorites like Big Wrap or Pitkin County Dry Goods. But now, they need to watch out for a newcomer on the scene, AtLast Designs, which started right here at AHS. Seniors Morgan Melahn and Nikki Cardamone decided to take a page out of adulthood and start their very own bracelet making business after experiencing frustrations about having no where in Aspen to buy affordable jewelry. First, the girls started making their own but as fellow classmates started to notice their new beaded accessories and began to show interest, they decided to turn their new hobby into a business.

The first step in the process is making the bracelets. There are three different styles that are available for purchase, including braids, wraps, and circular marbles. The prices vary depending on the time it takes for them to be made and the cost of materials used. Both the braided and circular marble styles cost $15.50 and range from 10-40 minutes to make. The wraps on the other hand can take up to 2-3 hours, making their price rise to $20.50. The girls tried to make their designs as cheap as possible because this idea sprouted from exactly that, the lack of affordable jewelry. All of their designs can be found on their website, atlastdesigns.squarespace.com and are labelled after Greek gods and goddesses.

“Nikki’s middle name is Atlas and Atlas is a Greek god so that’s where our slogan comes from, ‘Wear the Heavens’, and so we stuck with that theme throughout,” Melahn said.

The website was finished on November 23rd and features images taken by Cardamone’s mom, Michele Cardamone Photography. The designs are pictured in nature, including on tree branches and rocks. They are also modeled by fellow senior Matilda Nickell and by the girls themselves. The website was promoted through various Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram posts. So far, these social media outlets are the only advertising used to attract customers. Because the girls are first trying to sell predominantly to AHS students, their own social media platforms are enough to get the word out to almost the whole school. Between Facebook and Instagram, likes are increasing with each passing week.

So far, the girls have gotten positive feedback from customers, who currently are mostly senior girls. Their target buyers are in the 13-18 age range so they hope that soon many other students will start to join in on this trend. Once the business grows, there is also the possibility of expanding to making other accessories like rings and necklaces.

“AtLast bracelets are for young, funky, and fresh teenage girls. It is absolutely fabulous. I wear mine all the time,” senior Diana Flores said. “I’m so happy that Morgan and Nikki started this fashionable and affordable new trend.”