We recently connected with Kimberly Cowan and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kimberly thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

“Taking a Risk”…this resonated with me the most. So allow me start from the beginning.

As an artist and painter, it is engrained in me to always keep my creative eye sharp, but as Capricorn, that creativity MUST come with a steady paycheck. I had never questioned my journey in the industry as much, until I moved to California with friends on a whim (1st risk). After that, I made it a point to stay in the fashion space, whether retail or as I thought, doing fashion sketching for magazines. But I soon realized, that was not my path.

Once I honed in on Jewelry as my focus, I started noticing things, where I walked, what I heard around me, who spoke to me, all led me back to confirm I was headed in the right direction. Even though I was getting all of these confirmations, I was still in the season of fear and hesitation. I can’t start a business, I can’t do it all on my own. That’s impossible.
From there I started having sleepless nights. One day while at worship service, a woman came up to me and asked “Why are you letting fear stop you?”. Not knowing my story or me for that matter. But this was not a coincidence.

While working with various brands in the jewelry industry in production and design, I still had the thought, but had not made a move. Then the pandemic hit. Not sure what came over me, but I started doing the small things, deciding on a name and why, getting an LLC, website name, registrations, etc. Since sitting in “silence” during the pandemic, I sketched many many ideas but nothing seemed to stick. While driving one day, I noticed a Lioness symbol on a truck, then on someone’s t-shirt another day. My Mom texted me a picture of a pot she found in the attic of my late Grandmother, it had a Lioness on the front. This was it, my first design.

After this I thought, yea it was time. Time to take a step and a bigger risk. I decided I would quit my jewelry production job in October of 2021 and take a leap into the unknown. That way, I can focus all my energy in starting this brand I had always dreamed of. Not rushing myself or my thoughts, just building and launching as I had the feeling to proceed.

Fast forward to February 2022, I launched MAE + LANG, a unisex, luxury jewelry brand. February 2023, I am featured and partner with Saks Fifth on Saks.com. After connecting and raising brand awareness, I landed a scholarship with the Black Jewelry Coalition, received a Semi-Finalist Grant with Halstead, and collaborated with various influencers. More recently, I will participate in the Black Business Month PopUp in connection with 15 Percent Pledge and Nordstrom Aug 25-27.

My journey began with listening. Listening and then making a move. This seems to be working in my favor so if that risk is something that keeps you up at night, act on it and see what happens. Small steps lead to bigger ones, leading to a bigger picture. All you have to do is take the first step.

Kimberly, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Kimberly Cowan. I studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Once graduated, I moved to LA, gained various internships while working retail. After a bit, I landed my first industry job working with clothing design and production. Soon after, I switched to jewelry as this was my passion. Traveling to Paris and India to work alongside artisans and vendors, I learned the inner works of a business. Since learning and continuously growing, I am most proud that I have not given up. I believe it is because I feel that there is a larger goal that I have yet to discover. It is not time to stop yet. So I dream bigger and keep going.

I believe there are many but few creatives these days who have the ability to carry on and run all areas of their brand, while still being inspired. I am one of those few. This is why I fight so hard to advocate for natural creatives and artists. We still exist and create.

MAE + LANG jewels is a handcrafted, unisex brand in Los Angeles using 14K Plated Sterling Silver and 14K Gold. All components are designed by me with love and inspiration of her elders, then created by local artisans. While jewelry has the ability to change an outfit and start a conversation, Mae + Lang is also intended to be a daily reminder of your power and discover your inner Lioness. Each necklace, ring, bracelet, earring, and body-chain is manufactured with passion and care.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

As a creative and business owner, you start to realize that there are areas of running a business that may not be your calling. This is where you outsource help or advice to either steer you in the right direction, or take the reins.

As for me and my brand, I wanted to be the own in control, so I outsourced assistant and brand manager for a short time. I wrote down my ideal customer and viewer and began creating content for that person. The look, how I spoke in captions, the music I chose was for the customer. When creating content, I find it similar to your “packaging” and presentation for your brand. So I did just that. Once you love your content, you get in a rhythm to create in a certain pattern, or at least I do. This makes it easier to appeal to your ideal clientele. It is also important to be as consistent as possible. There is not a need to create everyday to avoid getting burned out, so pace yourself. Your audience will naturally gravitate to what they are drawn to.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I have had to unlearn the thought that if everything does not go as planned, it is not the end. There will be set-backs, things that will not work, but there is always a plan B…and C.

Once I started my brand, I have been told and experienced that the first 3-5 years are the toughest. At just shy of 1 year, I had to go back into the work force. But this time, since learning my boundaries, I went back with certain stipulations. Working with limited but capable hours, the business I work with knowing I too have a brand, flexibility, and still creating in some capacity. These are things I needed in order to keep going and building myself as an entrepreneur. I found that place and I am currently working and both running a business of my own.

Since doing so, I have told myself that this is not a set-back but a reevaluation of my journey, a new path, until I am able to fully fund my business and it keep me afloat. Adapting is not a failure, it is doable, and it does exist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://maelangjewels.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maelangjewels/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaeLangJewels
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-cowan-a3619310/
• Other: https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/search?q=mae+lang&search-button=&lang=en_US

Image Credits
All images were taken an edited by Kimberly Cowan, owner and designer of MAE+LANG