Growing up in Liberia, Elma was surrounded by women who wore their heritage with pride. She remembers her aunts draped in Liberian gold, layering each piece with intention. Their V-shaped rings marked milestones, their jewelry reflected identity, and every adornment told a story of family, culture, and belonging.

When civil war forced her family to the United States, the landscape changed—but the values she carried with her did not. Raised in a community that celebrated her exactly as she was, Elma grew up with a quiet confidence rooted in culture rather than convention.

Years later, after nearly fifteen years working across Africa as a policy advisor with USAID, an unexpected career transition became an opportunity to return to those same lessons she learned as a child. Inspired by the resilience of the market women she had admired throughout her life—women who built opportunities with their own hands—she founded Legacy Design.

Today, every collection is a tribute to the artisans, traditions, and stories that shaped her, creating jewelry that honors Africa's rich heritage while celebrating the women who wear it.

Elma-Lorraine

CEO and Founder, Legacy Design

"Our culture is not a trend. It is not an aesthetic. It is our living, breathing inheritance."