A jewelry designer and her buttons!
I started designing jewelry about 3 years ago, when I was inspired by a women who was making stretch bracelets and selling them to her friends. It was a very simple design but she was selling many of them. It made me think that I could come up with something trendy and do the same. I knew I wanted the design to be something other than the simple stretch bracelet. I searched EBAY for vintage items. I had an idea of using some kind of vintage material and adding it to a bracelet.
Finally, I came to a button. EBAY had so many vintage buttons. They were all very unusual. I purchased a bunch of vintage buttons. Then I went to the bead store and picked some beads that I liked. Now, I had to figure out how I was going to combine the two materials.
I searched the internet for inspiration. I saw tons of button bracelets. Most of the designs used lots of leather with the semi precious beads. I knew I wanted leather in the design but not so much that it takes away from the beautiful colors of the semi precious beads. I decided to bead the semi precious beads on wire and use the leather and button as a closure. I thought it was unique and neither materials overpowered each other. The vintage button was the story telling piece!
I made a few bracelets and wore them around town. Everyone loved them. They loved the uniqueness of the closure and the story these vintage buttons told them. One day I came across vintage Chanel buttons and decided to make some bracelets with the Chanel buttons. They were a favorite! Friends wanted them for themselves and for every family member that had a passion for Chanel.
Later, I found button stores in NYC that carried new but high quality unique buttons. I have spent hours and hours searching for buttons that are unusual or fit in a fashion trend.
Eventually, selling to friends turned into vending shows at fundraisers and then turned into some wholesale accounts around the country.
I adore social media and use it very often to help promote my business. It has helped me find vending events and wholesale opportunities. It also helps me be in touch with my followers.
