Month: October 2013

Odette New York

Posted on by TheAmericanEdit

I’ve said before… jewelry should be personal. I’m partial to supporting smaller designers with my accessories, and it’s also important to me that each piece has meaning – a memory, a goal, an idea. I’ve always loved Odette New York because the pieces are so dynamic – delicate and feminine while simultaneously geometric and bold. When you wear an Odette piece, it’s obvious that a lot of attention has gone into the design… the way the rings fit, the way the necklaces lay just so…

About a month ago, Jennifer Sarkilahti emailed me to say she’d be visiting Minneapolis for a trunk show at Mille. Being the absolute dork that I am, I had a total fan-girl moment, jumped up and down, and emailed Matt to say, oh my God can you believe this?! It was a pretty big moment for me. Even better, last week I was able to visit Jennifer in her studio in Brooklyn and see how her beautiful pieces come to life.

I was a huge fan of Odette before, but meeting Jennifer made me fall even more in love. She personifies the vision I had of Odette… she’s incredibly kind and thoughtful, gorgeous in this totally unassuming way, and just so talented. It’s incredibly inspiring to see someone turn art into a business without losing the art – and Jennifer has done just that.

Thank you, Jennifer, for reaching out! and Michelle for connecting us! Read on to learn more about Jennifer and Odette, and if you are in Minneapolis check out the trunk show at Mille this weekend!

odette-cage-ring

HOW DO YOU DESIGN YOUR COLLECTION?

I want to explore everything… I want to do all that I can. I don’t impose trend limitations on myself. I keep a running sketchbook and sticky notes next to my bed. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and sketch. When it’s time to design a new collection, I pull everything together and see what works.

WHAT ARE YOUR STYLE ESSENTIALS?

Lots of black. So cliché New York! Lots of jewelry. I love stacking – I love that we are having a stacking moment! [note – I wish I had taken a picture of Jennifer’s amazing stacks… I keep thinking of them!]

I’m a minimal dresser with maximal jewelry. I also have a shoe weakness!

odette-ny-cuffFinished pieces and wax models displayed in the studio. 

WHAT GETS YOU THROUGH THE DAY? THE WEEK?

I enjoy coming to my studio. I love it when all of the studiomates are here – it makes it a fun environment. Just the fact that we can make a living doing this every day makes it all worthwhile.

WHAT MAKES YOUR LINE UNIQUE?

Everything has been made by my hand initially, each mark is intentionally placed. The pieces are literally unique.

odette-new-york-studio each piece is handmade in wax (like a sculpture!) and then cast in various metals. the texture you see in these pieces is hand-carved by Jennifer. 

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Everything! I love to travel – it helps me clear my head because when I’m traveling, I’m not thinking about other stuff all the time. Museums, movies, books.

odette-new-york-inspiration-boardsuch a good inspiration board!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO TRAVEL? WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO NEXT

My favorite place is Bali… I’d love to explore India and South America next.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER DESIGNERS?

Just start making things. Don’t spin your wheels and be afraid to put something out there. Be really thoughtful, but don’t be afraid.

THANK YOU, JENNIFER! I loved meeting you and learning more about your line… and am so excited to add these or this to my collection on Saturday!

Odette NY Mille Pop Up

 

[top image via Odette, bottom via Mille, all others are TAE]

new york, new york.

Posted on by TheAmericanEdit

I’ve let New York take control this week… which means eschewing blog posts for instagram, meeting amazing makers (that I’d also call friends!), visiting beautiful shops, and eating. some things never change.

I’m working on a full recap of the Martha Stewart American Made Workshop to share this week and am so excited for the interviews and features I’ve worked on while here! But for now, I’m off to enjoy this city and meet some more amazing people… follow along if you’d like!

Martha Stewart American Made

Posted on by TheAmericanEdit

I’m on my way to the Martha Stewart American Made Workshop! Looking forward to learning from established entrepreneurs and meeting amazing makers!

Tomorrow I’ll be checking out the American Made Market at Grand Central and then I’ll be exploring this amazing city for the next week! I’m so excited to meet with some amazing brands for TAE features and to check out all the great new shops… let me know if there is anything I can’t miss!

follow along for a glimpse into the conference!

Tradlands

Posted on by TheAmericanEdit

I am so excited to share this interview with you today! I “met” Sadie & Jeremy through Twitter last year as they were preparing to launch Tradlands and have been so inspired as I’ve watched the (recently married!) couple grow and refine their business… as someone who lives in button-downs and used to covet my husband’s options, I am thrilled that they are creating solutions for women. Read on to learn a little more about Sadie!

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

My partner and husband, Jeremy, keeps me motivated and laughing every day. He carries what I consider to be the less than fun-filled side of the business – finances, scheduling, and marketing – with tenacity and a smile. He gives me the space to be creative while gently nudging me to stay on task.

WHAT ARE YOUR STYLE ESSENTIALS?

As a girl who went shopping for her wedding attire 3 days before the big day, my style is pretty relaxed. My essentials are well-worn jeans, my gold signet ring, a great button-down, and sunshine.

TRADLANDS-BERNAL-HEIGHTSWHAT IS NEXT?

Our little start-up is growing quickly and we will be looking to hire a team soon. When it comes time to hire employees, I want to create a positive, healthy work environment. That is very important to me. I have had terrible, unhealthy experiences working for other people, as so many have. Something I want for the future of Tradlands is to be a great place to work, where people can grow, learn, and find balance. Although we want to progress as a company, we want to share our success and happiness with a team of people.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?

When I left my desk job to work full-time on Tradlands, it was terrifying. It was also one of the best decisions I’ve made to date. I’ve learned that the things that scare me, when overcome, lead to the most satisfying and important breakthroughs.

tradlands-clementWHERE DO YOU WORK?

Jeremy and I are currently working out of mid-coast Maine while spending time with our family who lives here. We spend time in SF when production is underway. One of the many benefits of owning an online business is the ability to work nomadically.

WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO SHOP?

While I do most of my shopping in the Tradlands stock room and “borrowing” from my mother’s closet, my favorite San Francisco stores include Reliquary in Hayes Valley and Mill Mercantile in the Mission. Online you can find me shopping at Westerlind and BestMadeCo.

tradlands-1WHY IS AMERICAN-MADE IMPORTANT TO YOU?

We decided very early on to keep production in the United States. We spent a lot of time researching at our local library for resources and reaching out to friends for guidance. Organizations like SF Made helped us connect with new people and local references. What we have found is an impassioned niche of people who also want to keep manufacturing in the US. It’s a great place to be.

WHY DOES MANUFACTURING IN AMERICA HELP YOUR BUSINESS?

For a small company like ours the best way to ensure a healthy work environment is to keep it in the US. We are making great products and also creating a socially and environmentally responsible workplace. By manufacturing locally we are on hand during our production runs, working closely with our sewers, and looking over each shirt that gets made. It allows us to create products we believe in and comfortably guarantee.

thank you, Sadie! Follow tradlands: