Via Rutkowski 
Talented locals are what make the Hoboken + Jersey City communities so great. One local designer, Camila Aguilar, is turning the idea of jewelry design on its head with upcycled pieces that perfect the art of giving something old a new life. Her business, Slay By Mila Shop, has been spotted at several Hudson County pop-ups over the years, and it’s about time we learned more about the woman behind it all. Keep reading to learn more about Slay By Mila Shop and a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes process.
How it Started
The “Mila” in Slay By Mila Shop comes from talented owner and designer, Camila Aguilar, whose handmade jewelry has been worn by over 500 happy customers since opening in 2019. Camila is a mom, wife, and entrepreneur whose designs have been popping up all over Hudson County + beyond. Camila has called Jersey City home for the last three years and loves being a small business here, adding, “It has been so inspiring. Jersey City is filled with small businesses that encourage me to keep going! The different fashion styles help me come up with different collections and inspirations.” Camila set down roots in New Jersey after her family migrated from Argentina when she was four years old. She spent time living in New York, Union City, and Newark, adding, “the different cultures have made me who I am.”
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Like most entrepreneurial journeys, the path is never linear but often leads people exactly where they need to be. Camila’s entrepreneurial spark started back when she was pursuing her dream of becoming a makeup artist. She utilized her Instagram to put herself out there while simultaneously working as a server and bartender throughout New York City. On her off days, she would take makeup clients, do $10 oracle card readings on Instagram, telling HG with humor, “Let’s just say I could never stay still!”
In the midst of her journey, and as a multi-hyphenate creative, she started to develop a love for handmade artistry and design. As an artist in many ways, Camila loved the idea of being able to express her own form of art in wearable ways. Camila’s makeup artistry was already a form of wearable art, so she tried her hand at another form: handmade jewelry.
In November 2019, Camila and her mother opened Slay By Mila Shop. As things got rolling, Camila and her mom would spend hours hunting in the colorful shops of the Garment District in New York City just to source the perfect beads and charms for their visions. Camila was working at the bar and come right home to work on the jewelry.
As time went on, Slay By Mila Shop’s custom designs were where things started to pick up. Camila told HG, “I would create crystal bracelets that would help people with whichever interest or guidance they wanted from the properties of the crystal. I would intuitively pick out a crystal and design for my client that fits their aesthetic. That really started the ball rolling for our business.” Soon after, Camila took over Slay By Mila Shop on her own with deep gratitude for her mom’s help getting here, adding, “I’m so inspired and appreciative of my mom, because if it was not for her planting the seed and taking initiative, I would not be where I am today with my art + shop. Thanks to her, I’ve been able to sell over 500+ handmade items in the past 7 years.”
The Magic of Upcycling
The beauty of Slay By Mila Shop may be evident in the pieces themselves, but the story behind each design makes it even better. Camila’s favorite part of creating is sourcing materials. She often hits the thrift store or flea market to dig for second-hand mismatched jewelry, chains, and charms, creating designs from upcycled materials, giving them a second life, shouting out Hoboken Thrift Box and Cyn City Thrift for their support.
Camila has made rosaries, wired crystal moons, friendship bracelets, rings, earrings, bangles, necklaces, upcycled bags, keychains, phone charms, hair clips, and more, saying, “as much as I try to stick to a niche, I can’t!! I love all styles of jewelry! But it has to be handmade or Upcycled. I’ll try anything once is my motto!” She has even created bulk orders for party favors for birthdays and weddings. “I’ve dabbled in a lot over the last six years, and it’s very hard for me to say no to a new idea, so that’s what makes Slay By Mila Shop unique”, she said
Camila’s current obsession is creating upcycled accessorized handbags. From finding the perfect secondhand bag, sourcing patches, beads, charms, and funky keychains, Camila finds a way to bring it all together to become a cohesive work of art, or as she says, “slaying it up”, getting as creative as possible. Besides an affinity for upcycled bags, custom orders remain one of Camila’s favorite experiences. She told HG, “I truly levitate when clients let me freestyle and intuitively let me create a special bag for them. It’s a great feeling being trusted with your art.”
How to Shop
Slay By Mila Shop’s designs can be spotted at pop-ups throughout New Jersey and New York City, with frequent updates on Instagram (so be on the lookout). Those interested in custom designs can fill out Camila’s custom form or simply send her a DM. Camila shared with us that her new website will be finalized next year for easy online shopping and collaborations with local shops.
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