My name is Sophie Wiseman-Floyd and I graduated from NCSU in May of 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design. While in school, I shopped around for high quality, durable gold jewelry and struggled to find anything I liked for less than $100. When I did find something, it would tarnish or turn my skin green within a few weeks. I started researching affordable but durable materials, experimenting with jewelry making while I was in school, and taking advantage of the free access we had to tools & mentoring. I pretty quickly started making my own gold jewelry but with a huge caveat: it wouldn’t tarnish when you showered, swam, worked out, and went to raves 😂. By the end of sophomore year, I had a good grip on the kind of jewelry I was making, solid material suppliers, and a pretty full fledged side hustle!

HEIR Raleigh’s name is a tribute to what I’ve learned in life since moving to Raleigh in 2014. I was lucky to have been the heir to a well of knowledge that I’ve cultivated in my designs. No matter where I go, my creations will always be a lasting testament to the experience I gained at the design school and in Raleigh.

I grew up in-between the Caribbean (Dominican Republic + Haiti) and the mountains of North Carolina. My parents always encouraged me to travel + learn as much as I could from other cultures and lifestyles. Though I have an extremely distinct sense of style and personal taste, it would be lost without the influence of my family, peers, travels, and unique upbringing. 

Now I am graduated, doing HEIR full-time, and have opened a small permanent jewelry studio & shop in Downtown Raleigh with my best friend from college, Evan. I am so honored & grateful for passionate customers, like y’all, that keep me making jewelry & supporting a life that I absolutely love!

xo, Sophie