It’s great to hear women’s entrepreneurial success stories.
Katherine Sturgis fits into one of her own.
After working for several years in corporate fashion, buying and merchandising mass-market items, Sturgis came to a conclusion: big business simply wasn’t for her. Instead, she opted to follow her passion and be more creative in the confines of her own home.
Utilizing “Disparate elements and materials to create pieces that are playful, elegant and above all, wearable,” Sturgis says, she creates chunky sterling silver chains entwined with silk thread, strands of vintage rhinestones, and strings of hand-painted leather.
The result is a one-of-a-kind bracelet representing your individuality and a designer’s success story.
We caught up with Katherine to see what her new life was like.
Do you just love your new life as a designer and not as a buyer or merchandiser?
I love being creative and working with my hands every day. There is more stress in taking all the responsibility, but it is worth it.
How does that past life affect what you’re designing now?
Working as a buyer and merchandiser gave me a wonderful foundation to work from. I learned a lot about the business behind fashion and the designs. I also learned a lot about building a collection and thinking about how pieces will work together to create a story.
You mention your pieces are “glammed-up friendship bracelets.” Is this where your inspiration started?
I first made the braided wrap bracelet for my best girlfriends, which they then named friendship bracelets. I loved that idea.
Who are you designing for?
I am designing for myself first. But I also design for people with an eclectic sense of style who want pretty jewelry for every day wear and all occasions. I think beautiful things should be worn as much as possible – not only for special occasions. My grandmother once commented that no one wants to wear rhinestones every day. My immediate response was, “I do!”
Does discovering an interesting vintage material inspire you?
Absolutely. I love walking through flea markets. Seeing beautiful pieces gets my mind spinning. It is exciting to work with older things because you have to adapt to the materials and to what is available.
Do you follow trends or make your own?
I think big, sparkly jewelry is very on trend right now, as is mixing materials. I certainly fit into trends on those terms.