Today we’d like to introduce you to Lana Nikolenko.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lana. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve been making jewelry my whole life as a hobby. I also fell in love with traveling after my first backpacking trip through Europe when I was 18. In my early 20s, I started dreaming about one day having my own jewelry line, but the timing never seemed right.
I decided to move to Asia where I taught English. It wasn’t until 2012, upon my return from Asia, that I finally took my first metalsmithing and casting classes. I realized that I can actually make jewelry on a more technical level.
In my casting class, I cast a few objects I had found on the beach in Panama years back. Later that year I went to Belize and found a few shark teeth. That is when it really clicked and Made In was born.
I decided that I would cast objects that I find while traveling and that this would be the concept of my line. Made In became the perfect marriage of two of my biggest passions: jewelry making and traveling. Nowadays I take a yearly winter trip abroad to source my inspiration.
I search for objects in nature on hikes and beaches, artisan markets, food markets and antique shops. I’m collecting the whole time I travel. It gives my trips a greater purpose and makes them more interesting. I imagine the objects that I find in metal form as jewelry components.
I’ve traveled to Argentina, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Peru, Ecuador where I have found scorpions, iguana feet, desert rose crystals, boar fangs, and vintage/antique objects, to name a few.
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?
I can’t say that it’s always been a smooth road. I really enjoy being my own boss, but when owning a small business, there is no stability, and that gets to me sometimes.
I don’t know what next month, next week or even tomorrow holds. The uncertainty of things can be very stressful at times. For me failure is not an option – my name is on the line.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Made In Jewelry – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am a one-woman operation. Sometimes I joke around and say I’m the CEO, CFO, accountant, manager, salesperson and janitor. Although what I enjoy doing most is the actual jewelry designing and making.
I do a lot of in-person shows like craft fairs, street fairs, trunk shows, etc. When I meet a new customer and tell them my story – that every single piece of jewelry came from an original found by me on a trip, I usually get this response “Wow, I’ve never seen jewelry like that before.
That is so interesting!” That reaction is what I’m most proud of. In an age where it’s hard to find unique jewelry, I am able to stand alone in a category – that is a very gratifying feeling.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Right now the main plan for the future is a new collection that will debut in May. I recently returned from a winter in Colombia, Panama, and Honduras with new finds and the new collection is number one on the priority list at the moment.
This year I’m trying to go in a bit of different direction design-wise – instead of being objective with my designs I want to deconstruct the pieces into something abstract. I want to challenge myself as an artist by doing this.
But my overall goals for the future is to keep growing my business. Things like marketing and a stronger online presence is an ongoing project.
Pricing:
- price range $55-$130
Contact Info:
- Website: madeinjewelry.net
- Email: madeinjewelry@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeinnikolenko/
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MadeInJewelry
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