Today we’d like to introduce you to Kowa Mattern
Hi Kowa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Kowa, and I am the owner and designer of Herself Collections, an online based jewelry brand that also showcases in select markets and retailers. I first started Herself Collections at the end of 2019, while I was living in New York City and working in fashion. With over 10 years of working in the fashion industry, I saw the waste involved with both the constant drive for newness as well as the poor craftsmanship (including in high-end designer brands) that causes pieces to need to be replaced after several wears. I built Herself Collections around the idea that you can wear our pieces with love year after year.
When I first started the business it was a way for me to be able to connect with women artisans, but as Covid upended our lives my relationship with jewelry soon changed. I moved to Houston during Covid to be with my fiancee, and my full-time job went fully remote. As we were also spending more time at home, I started to test out making my own jewelry pieces. Fast forward to today, I make and design the majority of the pieces that are sold on the Herself Collections website. I had no idea how my love for wearing, designing and making jewelry would evolve, and I feel so lucky that I now get to pursue the dream of sharing my pieces with others.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Owning a small business is definitely not a smooth road. The biggest struggle has been having to wear all the hats of the business from sourcing supplies, managing the social media accounts, exploring new markets, selling, accounting, bookkeeping, etc the list of to-do’s is just endless. I am lucky that I have a great community of support around me, from friends who buy and wear my pieces to helping me navigate the super complicated world of taxes.
Everyday brings new challenges, but I am really thankful for all the insights, knowledge and new relationships I have gained along the way.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Herself Collections is a woman owned online jewelry boutique that was founded in NYC and currently operates out of Houston, TX. I curate a collection made both in-house and from expert artisans. Herself Collections is a welcoming place where women can feel confident in purchasing high quality pieces, that are nearly all handmade and are designed to be stacked and layered. I carry pieces that are exclusively 14K gold filled, solid 14K gold, or sterling silver in order to maintain a range in prices, while keeping the quality high. I also only use real pearls, gems, stones, etc because I believe that nature does it best.
I specialize in laser welding, wire wrapping, beading and pearl knotting. I make pieces that I love to wear, and then I just make some more! My favorite part of the process is when a customer asks for a custom design, and we work together to make the perfect piece. For example, I met a customer a my last market, Markets for Makers, in Houston, who had a string of pearls from her mother in law that she wanted restrung. I found a custom pink color silk thread that she loved and was able to bring new life to the vintage pearls. If you live in Houston and want to see the collection in person, our next Market will be May 17-18 at The Post with Markets for Makers.
I am most proud of being a small business that cares about making a quality piece that can be cherished for years to come. Some of my pieces are made with a really special gold that is Fairmined certified. Fairmined gold is a stringent certification that guarantees the source of where the gold came from. Like many industries, the gold mining industry is rife with the mistreatment of people and the planet. When you purchase Fairmined gold, you can rest assured that you are supporting local mining communities who care for their communities and the Earth.
The name Herself comes from my connections with smart, independent, loving women who inspire me daily. Herself is an unassuming, soft word, yet carries beautiful strength behind it. I love building a community around the women in my life and being able to meet new amazing women along the way.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I use the Shopify app for my website and I recommend it to anyone who is looking to start their own website. They have perfected the combination of being user friendly, while also being super customizable.
I also really love Canva for helping me create marketing material. It’s definitely an app I use daily as a small business owner.
One podcast that has really helped me both in life and work is called The Way Out Is In. It is hosted by a buddhist monk and an environmental journalist, and they discuss ways in which we can live in the present moment through all aspects of work and life. What we do is, of course, very important, but how we do it is also so crucial.
I always love getting recommendations for a good podcast because it is great to have something to listen to on the days that I spend hours making jewelry. I listen to tons of books on Spotify, but I generally prefer fiction. A series I loved that I recently finished, is called Songs of Penelope. It is a great retelling of the Odysseus epic and an insightful narrative on being a woman. Penelope is a historical character, but a lot of her struggles feel relevant to today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.herselfcollections.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herselfcollections/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herselfcollections
Image Credits
Nikki Hirst
