“While in university studying commerce, I performed a number of case studies on jewelry brands and (naively?) thought, "I could do that!"

Once I graduated, I decided to take a 2 year metal-smithing program to understand the production-side of jewelry making. It was 2013, I had just finished the metal-smithing program and felt confident, prepared, and determined to start my own brand. I dropped in to local retailers to sell wholesale and get my designs out in the world. Some liked my pieces and others not so much—either way, I gained so much insight through this process that consistently pushed me to create more. What that would be, I didn't know, I enjoyed the process of discovering.

In 2015, we were picked up by Urban Outfitters, which was an incredible feat and created a lot of business for us! At the time, we shifted our focus on making more accessible pieces, keeping the price point low. However, that limited what we could create.

Now, after more than 10 years in the jewelry design business, I have been able to alter my collections to reflect my personal identity, creating pieces I would want to wear.

I'd say my aesthetic is a mix of west-coast laid back with an eye towards nuanced proportions and mixing softness with structure. I'm consistently drawn to East-Asian minimalism, and Japanese design philosophies like wabi sabi, but sometimes I get a kick out of that 90’s/Y2K North American maximalism. Throughout my design process, I enjoy referencing vintage pieces and pop-culture motifs.”

- Kara Yoo