Today we’d like to introduce you to Elena Stele.
Hi Elena, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Decoration, design and architecture have been my hidden passions ever since I was a little girl in southern Ukraine. Always being told that pursuing artistic aspirations is only a waste of potential, does not associate with financial success and therefore true happiness, it took me only 34 years to finally register with University of Miami to study Interior Design. Surprisingly I loved being back in school and very much enjoyed the program, feeling aspired and inspired more than ever. Unfortunately upon graduation the big question appeared: What’s Next? As a single mom of two at the age of 35 I could not afford to throw myself into the cold reality of highly competitive Miami at a cost of free internship, so I stuck around with my corporate, secure, comforting job daydreaming of designing spaces.
Two years later the entire world has found itself midst the most tragic unfortunate circumstances: COVID-19 has equally united and divided us and we all had to learn to live again, shifting our perspectives and perceptions. It was the most humbling and grounding time of my life. During the summer vacations I took my children to Mexico and we finally got to explore, even if only the tiniest part of this beautiful country, full of artistically creative minds and masterful hands. “Necessity is the mother of invention” at its full force. Everything is being reused, recycled, repurposed in its most creative way. This is when I realized how disconnected we are, living in a bubble of mass production , having everything so easily accessible delivered to our doors in the matter of hours that we forgot how to find solutions without resorting to buying another something we will end up never using.
I fell in love with the simplistic, rustic yet sophisticated design in Tulum. I loved that the trees they cut down to clear the ground to build the house were being used as a part of construction and decorative accents. Dried grass and palm leaves are used to weave lamps and baskets, fallen twigs, shells and feathers to make dream catchers and wall decor, pottery that cracks in the oven is grounded back to dust and mixed with clay to make new pottery. The appreciation for scarcity and the creativity have no limit.
I was hoping to find some items back home to buy for my house, and I found exactly none of them. This is when the faint idea of Ben & Giules was born. I instantly knew that I wanted to bring these unique handmade products home and make it accessible to other likeminded people, I just didn’t know how. One thing was clear to me from the very beginning, I wanted to work with the artisans and designers directly, I wanted to meet them, talk to them and hear their stories. Their energy was part of my vision.
My first pop-up was at a home in October of 2020, I quickly saw that the interest and demand were there so I organized the next pop-up at a restaurant, followed by the Maker’s Markets and few other venues. On May 1, 2021 I finally opened the shop on Lincoln Road. It was only a year ago when I told my friend in Mexico that I wished to bring artisanal products to Miami, and here we are. Many friends and people have been by my side on this journey and I am eternally grateful for believing or at least not talking me out of it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think doing something that is driven by passion and fueled aspiration is the most exciting and rewarding road. Every road has its hurdles, but when you are having fun along the way you don’t feel them
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Before diving head-in into my passion project I worked as a paralegal at a law firm here in Downtown Miami.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was a Soviet Union child and western toys like Barby and her dream house were unimaginable, so I built my own doll house out of cardboard box. It was very cure 2-story southern home with porch, skylights, fence made of matches, it had furniture and all, you could even open it in the back. I am still proud of it
Contact Info:
- Email: elena@benandgiules.com
- Website: www.benandgiules.com
- Instagram: ben_and_giules
