IN CONVERSATION WITH EVANGE PETRAKIS
interview by JANA LETONJA
At just 22 years old, Evange Petrakis has already cemented herself as one of the brightest entrepreneurial voices of her generation. As the founder and CEO of EP Jewels, she transformed a teenage passion project into a global jewelry brand now exceeding nearly 60,000 online DTC orders across 92 countries with close to $10 million in sales since 2021. Known for her bold, stackable, and highly personal designs, and collaborations spanning beauty, fashion, and lifestyle giants like L’Oréal, Olaplex, MoroccanOil, Lancôme, Kérastase, Haus Labs, Benefit Cosmetics, and more she has positioned herself as both a digital creator and trailblazing business leader. Balancing her presence at NYFW, a record breaking launch in August ‘Script Collection’, and her growing global influence, Evange is redefining what it means to be a young founder today - unapologetically ambitious, endlessly creative, and deeply connected to her community.
Do you remember where you were or what you were doing when you first thought of making a jumbo letter or number piece?
Yes. The idea came from my love of personalized jewelry growing up - nameplates, letter necklaces, lucky numbers, rings with meaning. When I saw how much people loved our classic bubble letter necklace, I knew we had to take it a step further. That’s when the Jumbo design came to mind, something bigger, something unique and iconic.
Was there a moment you realized how big this was going to be for the brand?
Definitely. As soon as we launched the Iced Jumbo Letter in November 2023, the response was overwhelming. People got it. They felt the same way I did about meaningful, bold jewelry. It quickly became a bestseller, selling out time and time again, and we’ve sold thousands since. That’s when I realized we had created something really special.
Why did you want the pieces to be oversized? What did that say to you or reflect about your style?
I’ve always loved bold, unique pieces that stand out. Not just trendy, but personal and meaningful. Oversized pieces feel confident and expressive to me. I wanted to create something that didn’t blend in, something that felt custom, intentional, like a wearable statement. Wearing this jumbo piece makes you feel confident.
What was the first letter or number you ever made? Who was it for?
The first was our Iced Jumbo Letter Necklace. It doesn’t have a bail, so it floated freely on the chain, which was really unique and different for the world of letter necklaces. I hand sketched the font, design, and changed it many times until it was perfect, adding the idea of this 3D letter to be finished with almost 175 cubic zirconia stones. Once it was produced and I put the first sample on, I knew immediately it was the statement piece that would be our launch pad.
How do you hope people feel when they wear it?
I hope our EP community feels proud and connected to their jewelry pieces. I hope they feel like it’s their story in jewelry form. Whether it’s their name, their initials, a number that means something special to them, or just a statement piece they love, I want them to feel seen, confident and connected.
Is there a Jumbo piece that means the most to you personally?
The original Iced Jumbo Letter Necklace will always mean the most. It was our first, and it set the tone for the entire Jumbo collection. It came from such a personal place and opened the door to everything we’ve created since, from jumbo rings, earrings, necklaces and more.
How did you feel when you saw the first prototype?
I was beyond excited. It felt like we brought the sketch to life. Seeing it sparkle, seeing how it moved on the chain without a bail, it was exactly what I had pictured. That moment made it real.
What is the process of designing a piece from scratch?
It always starts with an idea that means something. I sketch by hand, develop the font, shape, size and then turn it into a 3D model. After that, comes the prototype, testing size and details, then casting and setting the stones. Every step is about getting the feeling, size, shape and detail to look just right. We always strive for EP pieces to be personal, wearable and loved whether from our dainty or bold collections.
What inspired you to try entrepreneurship?
I’m a doer. I love to work hard and even as a child I always strived to do more. During quarantine at age 16, I was completely bored and decided to launch a YouTube channel when two of my videos, ‘My Jewelry Collection’ and ‘Get Ready With Me - for nothing’, went viral. The social media community that showed interest in liking the content and style I was sharing, inspired me to start a business. I first started selling tie-dye clothing, 500 pieces developed and designed in my family’s garage, which sold out in 24 hours. From there, I knew I wanted to combine my love for content creation with building something bigger. Jewelry felt like the perfect next step because it’s always been such a big part of who I am.
Why jewelry?
Jewelry has always been my thing. Whether I’m in pajamas or dressed up, I’m always wearing. It makes me feel complete, so starting EP Jewels felt natural. I wanted to create pieces made to mix, match and stack, while also staying affordable and inclusive so everyone could be a part of this community.
How do you connect with your followers/customers?
By being as real and transparent as possible. I share my personal experiences, both wins and struggles, on socials. I also listen to feedback closely, because building this brand is a two way relationship. At the end of the day, my customers feel more like friends, and that authenticity is what keeps our community so strong.
What does a typical day for you look like?
It changes daily. Some days I’m designing, working with manufacturers, having meetings or doing admin, other days I’m filming content, editing, planning launches, or hosting pop ups where I get to meet our EP community in person. I love being a part of all areas in my business. It keeps things exciting, personal and new day to day.
Where do you see EP in the future?
My dream is for EP Jewels to become a household name, a brand that everyone knows, loves, and feels connected to. At the same time, I want to keep giving back, whether it’s through community projects, philanthropy, or collaborations that make a difference. We’re only just getting started, and I’m so excited for what’s ahead.
