Today we’d like to introduce you to Ek Michaelis
Hi EK, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My creative journey started after a hard journey with substance abuse. When everything came to a head and I hit rock bottom, and spent time in multiple treatment centers, I was sent jewelry making supplies in the mail and started making things for my friends in those places. They loved them! Everyone encouraged me to start an Etsy shop when I got out, so that’s exactly what I did. My business grew and I began selling pieces of jewelry whose profits went to the Montgomery County Overdose Prevention Endeavor – the pieces were deeply personal and inspired by the sons of the four moms who started M-COPE after losing their sons to overdose. Since then, I’ve stopped doing drugs and my entrepreneurial spirit grew. After being accepted to the UH Bauer College of Business I began modeling on Instagram and throwing music events in Houston (HTX Up Next, Barrz and Beatz) to support small artists and businesses like myself. I met my client SEVYN! who won $1K at one of my events and asked me to become her manager. Since getting through that tough time in my life, I have had brand collabs, real connections, and been able to appreciate, support, and promote real art, which I believe comes in every form.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I experienced hard drug use from a young age which led to myself overdosing multiple times on fentanyl, as well as losing good friends to overdose. When I was kicked out of school and sent to rehab and wilderness therapy I decided to turn things around when I realized making my art (jewelry) made me think about nothing else- and that was what made me want to get clean. The mere fact that I could have a passion for something I was actually GOOD at changed my whole perspective, not only on myself but on life as a whole.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I started with Instagram modeling and Tik Tok when I began to amass a good amount of followers which led to me being offered a brand deal to partner with Windsor to be a part of their prom campaign in 2022.
I began my entrepreneurial career with making jewelry, which became successful because of my custom jewelry and its quality, as well as intuitive marketing techniques. I sell on my own website, Etsy, and Tik Tok – “By EK Collection”, @byekcollection on IG and Tik Tok (byekcollection.com)
I threw an event on Jan 3rd called HTX UP NEXT, it was a rap competition with food, alcohol, vendors, and DJs- @713upnext on IG.
The winner of the competition SEVYN! asked me to become her stylist and manager after that, since then I’ve gotten her and myself brand and creator collabs, as well as a headline performance within two weeks of me being hired.
I did a food review collab for Yomato Japanese Steak House with 2 other creators.
I am the Marketing Manager for an upcoming underground spot in Houston that is launching soon, where I direct a team to develop high level marketing strategies- especially on social media.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Just be you. Don’t try to recreate someone else’s look. People can smell a copycat from a mile away and I think everyone is unique, so if you show YOU, the REAL you, you WILL stand out. Keep going, keep trying, anyone with the hustle to make it WILL make it. And reach out to MCOPE if you need help with addiction struggles. YOU CAN GET PAST THAT TOO!!! If I did so can anyone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://byekcollection.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ekmichaelis?igsh=MWRsMjA2cDNiMWMycQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/713upnext?igsh=NG5rZXpheTQ1N3cz
