We recently connected with Caitie Biggs and have shared our conversation below.

Caitie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

When I started my small business three years ago, I had no idea how much interest people would have in my work. It’s been invigorating for me, shifting into re-working vintage and secondhand pieces into jewelry, and I think that really resonates with people in a time where our screens are dominated with AI slop & low-budget cash grabs. The entire experience has been so rewarding, connecting with others over our shared yearning for times that were slower, more thoughtful, and kind towards human interaction.

While I’m currently running Karmic Delay full-time, it’s that time of year where quite frankly, a lot of small business owners start to feel discouraged. Sales are slow after the holidays, engagement is down as algorithms evolve, and it can be tempting to throw in the towel, or try to balance the business with a full-time job… But the truth is, the creative industry is where my heart and my mind are at.

I’ve learned to evolve, and lean into my skills in the slow months. Just recently, I started pushing myself to work in the creative field beyond my own business: helping other local businesses on marketing & creative direction, picking up more photography work, and pulling for styling gigs. It’s taught me that this truly is a passion that I can’t trade in for a “regular job.” Creative work is a constant hustle, but it’s a joyous one.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Karmic Delay is a slow-fashion brand based in Lansing, Michigan, re-working materials of the past into streetwear for modern nostalgics.

Incorporating a mix of secondhand, vintage and natural materials, such as pearls, shells, bones and even wood, each piece is a reflection of memory, human connection & sentimentality.

Beginning in Spring of 2026, Karmic Delay pieces can be found within Wake Up Call Vintage in Downtown Lansing, at 623 East Michigan Avenue.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

While most of the pieces you can find from the brand are handmade & one of a kind, I recently re-launched a collection of phone cases featuring original scans of materials I have laying around the studio.

The process actually started all the way back in Summer of 2024: I was beginning to feel out the possibilities of wholesaling pieces from the brand, but unfortunately couldn’t do so very easily, with the ephemeral nature of my jewelry. At the same time, I wanted to expand into phone cases… So, I came up with a solution to both of these points:

Manufacture phone cases.

I started with a very limited collection that finalized in November, using a vendor from the Midwest area that actually handled everything from sourcing the cases to printing & shipping to my studio. It was amazing! I only offered 5 of each design, so that original batch is very special to me.

This January, I finally finished my newest collection of cases, and found a home for them in downtown Lansing – overall, the manufacturing process was easy, but gathering wholesale clients has been an entirely new – yet fun!- challenge.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I’m all about fostering real, memorable connections: just get out there!

Be it down the road from my studio in Lansing, or across the state in Detroit or Grand Rapids, I’ve always made an effort to connect face-to-face with my girls. It’s such a rewarding experience to pop-up at a flea market or city event, and I’ve met some of the sweetest people in these places.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.karmicdelay.com
• Instagram: @karmicdelay
• Other: karmicdelay@gmail.com