Sophisticated, contemporary, sexy, flirty, and fabulously fun are all words that have been used to describe Lolita and her designs. Whether it’s one of her signature Martini glasses from her “Love My Martini” collection, a pilsner from her newest collection, or a fashion accessory such as her ladies totes, Lolita’s collections show enormous attention to detail and her passion for design. Take for example her new Red-hot Martini, the base and stem of the glass are covered with exquisite crystals that make anyone holding it feel glamorous. On the bottom of the glass, as with all her designs, is the recipe for the Red-hot Martini. Lolita glasses are all about creating and celebrating the special moments that define our lives.

It was while drinking Martinis with girlfriends at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis that the idea to hand-paint crystal barware first came to Lolita. In 2000, the Love My Martini collection was born, a line of martini glasses whose designs are inspired by the ever-hot martini recipe. Lolita had come full circle, returning to her first love, art and design. “After being in the fashion industry, I learned how to launch a product line. I knew this is what I wanted to do. I knew it involved licensing if you wanted it to be a hit and reach as many consumers as possible,” she says. The Love My Martini collection represents a product line that has definitely hit a fantastic pool of consumers and has become a collectible. “Retired glasses are now going for over $100 on E-bay,” says Lolita, “go figure!”

When it came to naming her company, Lolita chose her given name, one that came from her grandmother’s name, Lola. It must be fate that the name Lolita means “beautiful one”. One look at her collection and there is no doubt that the company is aptly named. From the whimsical Bikini-tini to the sophisticated Cosmopolitan each glass is beautifully crafted with obvious attention to detail; note the flip flops on the base of the Bikini-tini.

Lolita came to Atlanta in the fall of 2001 with nothing more than a dream and a fierce determination to see that dream become a reality. The hand painted martini and wine glasses, originally done in the basement studio of her home, were elegantly designed, whimsical, and unique. They were also starting to sell; Lolita was rapidly turning a fun hobby into a serious business.

In 2004 Lolita signed a licensing contract with Santa Barbara designs and the rest, as they say, is history. In October of 2004, 18 designs were introduced, including the perennial favorites the “Shopaholic” and the “Flirtini”.

In 2006, a mere 18 months later, Lolita designs introduced 121 new items and shipped a total of 687,000 pieces to over 5,000 stores around the world. The line, initially comprised of martini and wine glasses, has been expanded to include pilsners, margarita glasses, bar sugars, and a beautiful Mojito set. There are over 60 recipe inspired designs in the Martini collection alone.

Fashion accessories have also been added in the guise of totes and makeup bags. Lolita’s fun, creative flair is evident in every piece. Her color palettes denote current fashion trends on new designs, and can include mixed mediums. “My favorite color combinations used to be chocolate with carnation pink and turquoise; I am very much into groovy combinations now, colors from the 70’s, as well as zebra with red boa.”

In Lolita’s future, look for a Martinis toGo Kit in liquor stores nationwide, a Martini recipe book, as well as more fashion and gourmet food items. Celebrity tie-ins are also in the works.

When asked about the secret to her success, Lolita answers with one word, “Passion!” She goes on to say that she believes that “every woman has a gift, a talent that makes them special and unique. Find that talent and you’ve found your passion in life. Follow that passion, allow it to grow and be fully realized and you will find success. I’m lucky because I’ve found my passion; my wish for every woman out there is that they will find theirs.”

Lolita believes that life should be lived to its fullest, and every moment should be celebrated.

What is your moment?