We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Feldman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.

Sarah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

Growing up, I was surrounded by entrepreneurs. Since most of my family started their own businesses at some point, that was just how I learned to tackle challenges. Whenever I wanted something new, the message was, “get a job”. Well, that’s hard when you’re 9, with child labor laws and all. I remember wanting a guinea pig. I was convinced this was the right pet. When I asked my parents, I got the same response I’d heard before, “get a job”. It was at that point I learned how to think creatively to find something that worked for me. I decided I was going to start my own dog poop business. Now hear me out. Who wouldn’t want to hire the neighborhood kid going door to door with the name “Sarah’s Dog Poop Picking Up Service”?! Kids laughed, but I didn’t care because I was bringing in consistent income as a 3rd grader.

Fast forward almost 30 years later, I have an appreciation for the creativity and drive my parents instilled in me. In January 2020 when I launched my business, Bespoke By Feldman, I was also addressing a personal challenge. I had recently injured my back and found myself with a lot of downtime, and a lot of thought time. I needed something to occupy the journey, so I reflected back on my art background and decided to start a business designing jewelry. Then the pandemic hit and I once again had to pivot. Looking back, it was during moments like these that my parents’ natural reaction to get creative and figure it out really kicked in.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Bespoke By Feldman is a leather jewelry line that primarily focuses on earrings. I started my business with the mission that I wanted to create wearable pieces of art and statement pieces, without pain and discomfort. I was tired of buying beautiful pieces of jewelry that looked amazing but then gave me headaches because they were so heavy. I thought about materials that were durable, beautiful and lightweight. I decided to work with leather because it encapsulated all of these elements. I also appreciated the unique textures, patterns, and colors. I also wanted to create a product that anyone could wear. 100% of my earrings are nickel-free, and 98% of my earrings can be converted into clip-ons. These aren’t your grandma’s clip-ons either. No offense grandma! They’re lightweight and simple. For special cases, I also offer metal-free backings. That’s what “Bespoke” truly means, creating a uniquely-tailored piece for someone. Through this process I’ve built a wide range of customers from salsa dancers, to children, to mature women, and people in general who are looking for something that no one else has.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Creativity is everywhere and as consumers, we sometimes have blinders on to all the talent that’s around. I encourage people to seek out small business markets, craft fairs and pop-ups, and while it’s the holiday season, a bug reminder to shop small!

Have you ever had to pivot?

I was in education for over a decade. I loved it. It was my purpose, my passion, and my priority. Along the way, like many other educators, I began to lose myself as I devoted more and more time to our students and the work. When I injured myself, it gave me an opportunity to pause and reflect on what really fulfilled my passion. It’s not that it had to be one or another, but I think a lot of times we convince ourselves if we just devote a little more time and effort, over and over and over again, we’ll be better off. Starting my business forced me to pivot in a way that prioritized multiple elements in my life. It was a reminder to find a balance that fuels me, not depletes me. There will always be work, so why not balance it out more?

Contact Info:

• Website: www.byfeldman.com
• Instagram: @bespokebyfeldman
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bespokebyfeldman
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahfeldman/

Image Credits
Sarah Feldman