{NM Daily}

Bergman's elastic pearl bracelets

Fifteen years ago Linda Bergman went from beautifying beach houses in Newport Beach, California to decorating women with her eponymous jewelry collection. In the beginning Bergman’s penchant for pearls was strictly personal, until an Orange County boutique she frequented inquired about her distinctive adornments. Bergman said the seaside shop’s interest in a handful of her homespun strands was flattering, but selling the store five necklaces and a few pairs of earrings was no cause to quit her day job.

“I did this small collection for them, then one day the Neiman Marcus buyers stopped in,” Bergman says wide-eyed as if the decade-ago, big break was just yesterday. ”The buyers contacted me and said we need this in the stores, how many can you do?”