About Us
You know that when you look good, you feel better. But when life gets in the way, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, even if you’re dripping in diamonds. (At Allusio, we call this losing your sparkle.) That’s where Allusio is different than anything you’ve ever worn. Instead of getting caught up in all the distractions of modern life, our beautiful jewelry comes with a guide that combines insights from behavioral and neuroscience research to help you focus on what matters most. Every time you catch a glimpse of your beautiful, heirloom-quality piece, you’ll repeat your personal intention to align your thoughts with your feelings and actions. And BAM, before you know it, you’ll experience more of what you love. It’s science. (We call that finding your sparkle.)
Allusio is from a Latin word meaning play, because play is the best way that people learn. The brand was born when I was taking time to parent my young children after working nearly 20 years in health care research and oversight. I couldn’t quite find the mother’s jewelry I wanted to celebrate the birth of my babies. Many of the pieces I liked weren’t made of durable materials, the inspiration behind them was fine but rather generic, and they felt exclusionary if overtly religious. Drawing on artistry from the heirlooms I’d inherited, I imagined a modern, joyful alternative to the traditional prayer medal–one that was inclusive and supported social justice initiatives. One that encouraged women to play creatively with their personal narrative to find solutions when they’re overwhelmed. Powerful, personal, lasting jewelry meant to be seen and celebrated, just like the woman wearing it.
Allusio goes a step beyond conventional meaningful jewelry, by encouraging you to be intentional with your thoughts and actions. Our pieces are thoughtful, joyful alternatives to traditional bridal and mother's jewelry, prayer medals, or even class rings. And you can feel great about supporting our company; as a benefit corporation, we put people and the planet ahead of profits. Our jewelry is ethically sourced and proudly produced in the United States, we donate a portion of net profits to organizations that improve public health, and offer customized fundraisers for schools and nonprofit groups.
I hope you enjoy playing with your jewelry and finding your sparkle. Please join our free Player’s Club VIP email list to vote for the pieces you’d like to see in our next collection, share your intentions in our group, and cheer on other ambitious women. And thank you for helping me save the world, one sparkle at a time.
About Me
Hi, I'm Julie Dusold Culbertson, founder of Allusio. I’ve always enjoyed the power of style to transform my mood and behavior, with a particular fondness for jewelry. My Irish great-grandmother was the most glamorous person I knew, and I was lucky enough to inherit some really beautiful costume jewelry from her and my grandmothers. My family was also very religious, so I’ve inherited some meaningful prayer medals and received my own special pieces to celebrate milestones in the church.
I moved around every 2-4 years growing up (five major moves before junior high), so crafting was a fun activity for me whether I had made new friends yet or not. We also didn’t have a lot of disposable income, so if I wanted to jazz up my school uniform or weekend looks, handmade jewelry was a great help. As I got older, embroidery thread and beading gave way to wire crochet and soldering. While I enjoyed crafting jewelry, I ultimately wanted a career using science to help people.
After two decades of experience in health care research, oversight, and innovation, I’ve found my calling in social entrepreneurship. I love bringing together seemingly disparate concepts to improve personal and public health, and have leaned into my creativity since having children. In addition to my professional career, I’m a certified pilates instructor and an advocate for wellness. I recently co-founded a non-profit organization called The Trustery that helps adults support youth mental health. And when I’m not working, tending to my spirited family, or working out, I love dedicating time to my adult friendships. I look forward to cheering you on in our social community.
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