From her bold necklace and two huge stone rings, to her sparkling dangle earrings and vibrant tunic, Elizabeth Carlock makes a statement. The Dallas native’s distinct, decked-out look is all her own, with pieces from her jewelry and tunic line: Elizabeth Carlock Designs.

The SMU alumna clearly knows how to take care of business. Carlock received her degree after just three years on the Hilltop – graduating in August and launching her business’ Web site just a month later.

Carlock, who majored in CCPA and minored in French, now devotes all of her time to her company. On a typical day, she is meeting with her team of graphic, fabric and Web site designers, along with communicating her ideas and designs to her factories abroad.

Elizabeth Carlock Designs features semi-precious stone pieces that are accessibly priced for women of all ages.

“I try to think of the everyday woman,” Carlock said. “What she wants and what she wears.”

The line has something for everyone. Dramatic-statement necklaces fill the Pearls Plus and Turquoise Drop collections, while more subtle designs can be found in the Gems by the Foot, Delicate and Chain collections.

Carlock describes her designs as being unique and colorful, yet versatile.

“You could wear this to a black-tie event or with jeans and a t-shirt,” Carlock said, displaying a teardrop necklace with pearls, quartz and turquoise.

Carlock, who has been designing, making and selling jewelry since high school, just launched her line of tunics earlier this week. Like her jewelry, the tunic tops and dresses have the same concept of wearable versatility. The tunics are reversible, one side patterned and the other a solid color with a reversible sash to tie around the waist or wear as a hair-tie.

The introduction of a tunic line is just the beginning of her expansion into the fashion industry.

“I definitely want to develop more accessory lines, like handbags, headbands and shoes,” Carlock said.

The 21-year-old entrepreneur gained a lot of knowledge into the industry through internships at the Dallas Market Center and with fellow SMU alumna and jewelry designer Elizabeth Showers.

“She really inspired me because she started her business right out of college and is now so successful,” Carlock said about Showers. “I learned a lot from working with her, just about the logistics of running a jewelry company.”

Carlock is a board member for the Elisa Project and is involved in several other Dallas non-profit organizations. She said the center of her business is giving back to the community.

“That’s why I do it,” Carlock said. “It’s been a great liaison for helping different causes and now I am segwaying into this Africa charity venture.”

The Africa charity venture Carlock is referring to is her February trip to Uganda with SMU alumni Brittany Merrill, founder of the Uganda American Partnership Organization, and Tom Shoes’ founder Blake Mycoskie. Carlock will work with the women of the UAPO Akola Project, an economic and community development program designed to provide self-sustainability and relief for widows.

“I am going to teach the women of the Akola Project how to make more couture-looking pieces with the paper beads they make,” Carlock said. “Together we are going to try and vamp things up so that the products these women are making will sell for more money in the states.”

Carlock’s passion for philanthropy is seen in each of her designs. Her swirl logo reminds whoever wears the jewelry to positively impact others. Her saying is “Be a swirl girl,” defining her motto as a woman who lets her inner beauty shine outward and boldly seeks to make a difference in this world.

“The fashion industry can be so superficial, dramatic and caddy,” Carlock said. “I wasn’t going to go into that world and not do something positive.”

For more information and to shop Elizabeth Carlock Designs, visit ElizabethCarlock.com

Elizabeth Carlock