Birmingham jewellery maker Carla Hancox has had a business boost after her LaLa Rocks bracelets proved a hit with top footballers and their wives.

Carla only launched LaLa Rocks last December but it has already proved a fashion label essential – with Louise Barry, the wife of former Aston Villa star Gareth, snapped wearing the jewellery at a party to celebrate Wayne Rooney’s birthday.

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Ashley Vincent has also been pictured wearing Carla’s products, and she says England goalkeeper Joe Hart is another of her celebrity clients.

Initially Carla, aged 30, of Harborne, was only selling her bracelets and necklaces through website www.lalarocks.co.uk, but now she has clinched a deal to also sell them in fashion store Harvey Nichols, at Birmingham’s Mailbox and in Manchester.

Carla, who sources the precious stones and metals for the accessories from Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, said: “I started out by making a couple of bracelets for myself and for a few friends, but so many people asked where I’d got them from that when I said I’d made them they asked if I could make them some and they would buy them off me, so the idea went from there. I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the success we’ve had already – it has been a non-stop whirl of orders and meetings.”

She admitted having famous people pictured wearing her products seemed to have helped boost the firm’s success.

“I think we launched at the right time too, just before Christmas,” added the mum-of-one.

She said she believed the jewellery, made from stones including carnelian, onyx, rose quartz, amethyst and freshwater pearls and combined with silver or gold charms, offer something to rival top brands such as Pandora or Thomas Sabo.

“I think the beauty of it is that the diverse range of stones and styles available means they’re all unique – they could be made from someone’s birthstone, someone’s favourite colour or a more unique style – such as skull stones, which are proving very rock ‘n’ roll with the fashionistas.

“Because they’re not all glitzy, they appeal to guys too – I’ve had a lot of requests for the onyx skulls for men and I’m looking at developing a leather line to appeal to them further.”

She said she was “over the moon” when she was approached to supply Harvey Nichols.

“The invitation to meet with Harvey Nichols’ buyers and then the decision for them to stock my products was the icing on the cake.

“Harvey Nichols represents exclusive, chic, luxurious products, and that’s exactly what I wanted my brand to be when I set it up.

“To me, being stocked by the UK’s premium retailer is a sign that it was all worth it.”

Kevin Breese, general manager of Harvey Nichols in Birmingham, added: “We have been so impressed by what Carla has created in such a short space of time.

“We can really see her collections appealing to both our male and female customers.”

www.lalarocks.co.uk