Startup
Easy Wear Jewelry set to launch in 2025
Kayla Lokker, founder of Easy Wear Jewelry, is on a mission to revolutionize the way we wear jewelry. Her company’s flagship product, Easy Clasp, is a retractable clasp attachment designed to make putting on and securing necklaces easier for everyone—especially individuals with dexterity challenges or limited mobility.
Lokker, a recent graduate of UW-Milwaukee with a business degree and certificates in real estate and entrepreneurship, first conceived the idea during an entrepreneurship class project.
“My professor told us to start paying attention to the day-to-day struggles we face in our everyday lives, and I really started to notice them,” Lokker said. “When I was getting ready in the morning, I always found myself struggling to use the clasps on the back of my jewelry.”
“One morning, when I was in a rush to get out the door, I put on a necklace that was given to me by my dad when I was born. It was a silver chain with a little diamond pendant—it was a very sentimental piece of jewelry to me. But since I was in such a rush, I thought I had it clasped all the way, but I didn’t. Sometime during the day, the necklace fell off, and I lost the diamond,” she recalled.
“From that emotional experience, I thought, ‘There has to be something out there that makes putting jewelry on easier.’ I started searching for a solution, but I couldn’t find what I was looking for. So, I made some rough sketches of what I wanted and began sharing those with people,” she continued.
How it works
Inspired by the mechanics of badge ID reels, Easy Clasp is a miniaturized version of the retractable design, downsized to a compact 12mm size. The clasp attaches to existing jewelry, offering ease and reliability for users. Lokker collaborated with a jewelry designer and a mechanical engineer before sending the design to a Pennsylvania-based CNC machining manufacturer for production.
A focused approach
Although Easy Clasp’s universal appeal makes it suitable for anyone who wears jewelry, Lokker is starting with a targeted audience. “We’re focusing on the 50-plus population and individuals with limited mobility,” she said. “My professor taught me to go narrow and deep when starting a business, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
From prototype to production
The journey hasn’t been without challenges. Lokker faced repeated rejections from manufacturers hesitant to work with a small-scale startup. However, persistence paid off, and the product is now slated for a Q2 2025 launch. Easy Clasp will initially be sold through Easy Wear Jewelry’s website and at local trade events, with plans to expand by partnering with national retailers. Lokker is also exploring licensing opportunities with jewelry manufacturers.
Funding and recognition
Launched in 2023, Easy Wear Jewelry has raised $50,000 through pitch competitions and grants and secured an additional $170,000 from an angel investor. Recently, Lokker earned the People’s Choice Award at the Elevator Pitch Olympics, a statewide competition for early-stage companies. The event provided her with valuable user feedback and connections with Wisconsin-based venture funds.
Beyond business
Lokker attributes her entrepreneurial drive to lessons learned during her years as a competitive gymnast. “I developed skills like goal setting, persistence, and teamwork that have been invaluable in running a business,” she said.
With a patent pending and production underway, Lokker’s vision for Easy Wear Jewelry is becoming a reality. Customers eager to support her innovative product can sign up for updates and join the product tester list on her website.
As 2025 unfolds, all eyes will be on Lokker as she prepares to make wearing jewelry easier and more accessible for everyone.
