Why did you choose to start Kate & Olliff? 

I went to an artsy liberal arts school growing up, and I used to design jewelry in my spare time.  Then the life demands of college and work got in the way, and I gave it up for many years. 

Fueled by a lack of creativity in my day job, and a desire for a creative outlet, I started sawing metals in my spare time. 

I’m also often dissatisfied with the earrings and jewelry I see around me and knew I could create pieces myself that inspired me and aligned better with my own personal style.  

What is your favorite part of the jewelry design process?  

I enjoy being a fount for the designs.  I also like learning all the new tools involved in the metal process.  I studied engineering in college, and working with drill bits, saws and hammers grounds me and brings me back.  I also really like that the metallurgy process combines the sciences with the arts/design side.  It’s an intersection I really appreciate and respect.  

What is your least favorite part?

Not having my own studio space, so I’m constantly having to clean everything up and bring it out, so we can eat on the table where I also work! One day I hope to have my own little studio where I can get the tables and floors as dirty as needed and let my creativity fully flow!  

Where is Kate & Olliff located?

I originally started creating jewelry from our family friends house in Charleston, SC.  It’s a beautiful house on the water, and sitting on their porch looking out at the marsh and boats going by – it’s hard not to feel inspired.  

What inspires you and your designs?

My style is more understated than trendy. I appreciate bold designs that are timeless and made of high quality materials. I will invest in expensive pieces if I feel it is something I can wear for years.  I love the dress designs of Nicole Miller and DVF because I can trust, after having worn their styles for many years, that the designers always keep true to their own aesthetic.

I am also, and I think always will be, inspired by the energy and individualism of New York.  I fell hard for NY when I moved up there as a summer intern, and my feelings for it have never abated.  To me, New York’s charm is that it demands the very best of its inhabitants.  New York raises the bar in every arena – in fashion, in design, in food, in business, in writing & media, in how efficiently you can order a bagel, in…everything.  It is both extremely demanding and extremely rewarding at the same time.  As the best things in life I’ve found usually are. I will be forever grateful to the creative energy that city implanted in me, and I hope that my sincere love and appreciation for New York’s design standards infiltrates into the pieces I create.  

Are there any creative people in particular who inspire you?

So so many! Anna Wintour, Micky Drexler, Roger Federer, Steve Jobs, Kate Moss, Ken Chenault (my old boss), Ayn Rand, Victor Hugo, and so many others who are not famous, and whose names you probably wouldn’t know. In summary though basically anybody who is good at what they do, who puts passion and heart into their work – but also usually people who are a little feared, usually a little weird, and maybe even disliked because of the way people revere them. People who are true to themselves and their own integrity, and who find a way to make a living without compromising that.