Born and raised in San Diego, California, Alison Smith's love for art, music, and animals shaped her creative journey. Early memories of visiting jewelry stores with her mom, nose pressed against the glass to stare at the glittering jewels, sparked her lifelong passion for gems, design, and fine craftsmanship. This drive led her to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design from San Diego State University, all while working full-time at the San Diego Zoo.

After spending a decade supporting high-net-worth individuals, including notable figures like Deepak Chopra, and becoming a certified meditation instructor, Alison felt a strong pull back to her true passion—design, gemstones, and jewelry.

In 2019, she was awarded a full scholarship to the prestigious Gemological Institute of America (GIA), where she immersed herself attending full-time on campus, graduating with a degree in Jewelry Design and Technology (JDT), becoming an expert in CAD for jewelry design, and forging a strong network of friends and colleagues in the jewelry world.

In the years following graduation, Alison earned an additional accreditation as an Applied Jewelry Professional (AJP®) from GIA and gained valuable experience selling fine jewels for Neiman Marcus, as well as designing custom pieces for private jewelers, working with both natural and lab-grown diamonds.

Now, LOBAS is fulfilling her lifelong dream of incorporating a love of jewelry, animals, and functional design into one dynamic business.