Today we’d like to introduce you to Esther Kao.
Esther, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My journey in jewelry making started when I was 5 and my grandma gifted me a few strands of beads. I loved stringing up my own necklaces to wear. Fast forward to when I was 26 years old and planning my wedding in 2009: I decided I wanted to make necklaces for my bridesmaids to wear. That little project of making those necklaces ignited a passion to make more jewelry. I started doing local craft fairs and selling my pieces on Etsy.
Back then, my jewelry was made of brass charms, beads, and leather. I kept coming up with designs for pieces that I couldn’t physically create because I lacked the skills, and finally decided that I needed to learn how to solder and set stones. Lucky for me, the Craft Guild of Dallas was just down the road. I signed up for my first metalsmithing class and got hooked. Today, I operate under my own brand of Esther Kao Jewelry. I work with silver and gold to create my one of a kind pieces, and I am proud to say that all my designs and jewelry are made by my two hands, from start to finish.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has not been smooth, but I’ve learned so much on my journey so far, both creatively and with regards to running a business. I’ve struggled with having design ideas and not being able to create them because I didn’t have the know-how. And as a creative, I love making things, but I’m not so keen on the marketing and management side of the business – sometimes I wish I had someone to do that for me! My current struggle is finding time to make things – I’m a stay at home mom of two kiddos, and they sure do keep me busy!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I’m a one-woman shop over here at Esther Kao Jewelry – I design and fabricate all the jewelry myself. My pieces are modern and geometric, but they are versatile enough to wear every day (I test them out myself!). I’ve got a background as a graphic designer, which spills over into my designs, and also allows me to do things like creating my own branding and packaging.
What were you like growing up?
When I was young, I told people I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. Funny, but that’s kind of what happened. I’ve always loved creating things with my hands and just wanted to learn. I took sewing and knitting classes in middle school, and if I had known about metalsmithing back then, I probably would have wanted to learn that too!
Pricing:
- Necklaces & rings starting at $82
- Bracelets starting at $185
Contact Info:
- Website: estherkao.com
- Email: estherkaojewelry@gmail.com
- Instagram: @estherkaojewelry
Image Credit:
Esther Huynh
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