We had the good fortune of connecting with Elea Xylem and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Elea, what inspires you?
I had a rough childhood in terms of growing up and preferring a non-binary presentation. My mom was a makeup artist and aesthetician with a specialty in image consultation. You might assume this would mean she would pressure me to look or present in a stereotypically feminine way, but actually she was always very supportive of my preferences. She helped me look for the best basketball shorts and shoes that would help me feel confident. Now that I’m older, I feel strongly in respecting people’s individuality. I get to work with my mom every day in our business, and I’m always inspired by her caring attitude. What she doesn’t understand, she tries to, and she will never force someone to be someone they aren’t. I love the idea of empowering people to be their ideal selves without changing who they are at their core. It’s something I use every day in my job.Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I studied graphic design in University, but a huge chunk of my education was in my upbringing. Darin, my mom, started our family business 24 years ago. I’m 29 now. The thing that sets us apart as a cosmetic and image consultant company is that we recognize the individual first and foremost. At elea blake, there aren’t hard and fast rules, except that you should always embrace your natural undertones and be true to yourself. We don’t follow celebrities or try to shape people into someone that is inauthentic to who they are. We are color therapists in a way. We listen to people and where they are in life. We analyze their skintone and help them embrace every color in it’s appropriate hue. Our ultimate goal is that they will be able to shop for color (clothing, makeup, paint, interiors, etc) without our help. We are always happy to answer their questions, but we believe in empowering people so that they feel confident when they are getting dressed in the morning. Whether it is the makeup that we customize by mixing it up for them, or the color system that we use to help them expand their palette, everything keeps the person we are working with in mind. It’s not easy to take that approach as it makes serving people who aren’t local difficult. My task when taking over the company was to gamify our system so that people around the world could find their best colors and mix their own foundation without stepping foot into our studio. I have learned so much about how to better serve people. I always strive to keep us inclusive, mindful, and available. We think about people long after they have forgotten about us because we truly care about them.If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well I love Atlanta, but I live in Chattanooga so I’ll give an answer for Chattanooga. I’m a big outdoors person so I love to hike. When people visit I always take them to one of the amazing hiking places around here. My favorite hiking spot is Prentice Cooper. I actually got engaged there on Snooper’s rock, but it is a huge park with lots of great trails. Chattanoogans love swimming in the creek and Middle Creek is a great place to go when it is warm. There is a diverse crowd that goes there as people are trying to beat the heat of summer and you’ll always meet interesting people from artists and musicians to entire family’s that don’t have access to pools. It’s a great place to see a more true representation of Chattanooga. In terms of bars, I really enjoy Hutton and Smith for the people you’ll run into. They have great bartenders there like Tiam and Matt. A new bar opened up across the street from us Black Cat which I enjoy for the more neighborhood feel. There is also a great bar called Exile that is perfect for unfussy outdoor hangs. If you want to impress someone you can hit up Proof Bar. They have people who are just starting out but have a ton of talent that they will rotate through. When I go out to eat I love Lupi’s pizza as they have great options for all dietary preferences. There is also Chatt Smoke House that has delicious eats and great for grabbing when you get drunchies at Hutton. Charlie’s BBQ has great options for the carnivores, and for vegans Your Local Seitanist and/or Cashew is a definite must. Toast & Cafe is near lookout and a little out of the way, but when it’s warm it has a great view of the mountain and amazing Salad Rolls. Grab a cup of coffee at Velo and say hello to Sadie to start your morning off right. Lastly, I feel I have to mention St. John’s. It’s definitely a fancy place, but its got great food and of course, their amazing former executive chef Rebecca Barron works at Slick’s Burgers if you want the best burger in town by an award winning chef. There is a lot of talent, so I feel like I’m leaving people out. I’m always happy to give suggestions of great places from fancy to low key.Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who I owe where I am in life to, but there would be no elea blake without my mom. My mom created the makeup line and the color system that I use as tools for what I do every day. Not only is she a color visionary, but she had to be creative in order to even get funding to start her business. My mom raised twins with the help of my dad, and they gave my sister and I a fantastic example of what a supportive relationship looks like. She mentored me in my aspiration to follow in her footsteps and encouraged me to take the business into a direction I felt it needed to go. She made this company for my sister and I, but didn’t force us to take it on. She has always encourage me to pursue my dreams where ever they may lead me. My family has been through many hardships and I wouldn’t say we have ‘made it’ yet, but I’m so thankful to work with my mom. I couldn’t ask for a kinder, more supportive mentor and partner.
Website: https://www.eleablake.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eleablake/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleawright
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eleablakecosmeticstudio/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/eleablake
Image Credits
Dan Henry, BLAM Photography