Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristine Cabanban

Hi Kristine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

Kristine Cabanban Jewelry was born out of a desire to finally take my hobby and passion to the next level. I always loved making jewelry, even as a kid, and as an adult I started taking classes for jewelry wax carving and metalsmithing. I used to work in audio post production, so I would take jewelry classes on nights and weekends. Eventually, I decided to turn that into my main gig so that I could have the flexibility to travel with my husband who works out of town for a good part of the year. Getting to create and make objects with my hands is such a privilege and I’m grateful to be able to do it!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Being a small business owner is never a smooth road! I started the business because I wanted to design and create jewelry. Being the bookkeeper, doing marketing and sales, administrative work, these are all things I also have to do even though they’re not my forte. Also, I’m one of many creatives who find it hard to promote ourselves and our work. So being an entrepreneur forces me to work on things that are not my strong suit, and learn things the hard way.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

I design and make jewelry that is inspired by nature, travel, myth, and the different cultures I am from and have adopted throughout my life. The jewelry is minimal yet edgy and tell a story. They have clean lines and an unfussy quality to them, designed for those who love adventure, travel, and appreciate craftsmanship and a unique perspective. I work in silver and gold and sometimes incorporate gemstones into the pieces as well.

I create all the models myself, employing techniques of lost wax carving and metal fabrication, and work with talented people from the jewelry district of NYC as well. I’m lucky to have access to a plethora of talent: casters, stone setters, jewelers, polishers, engravers, gem dealers and cutters, you name it, the diamond district has it!

My husband is my business partner and is an integral part of the business. He is a photographer who can also do graphic and web design, and so he is in charge of photography, the website and any and all marketing materials.

It takes a village to raise a child (or a business) and all of this is the foundation of Kristine Cabanban Jewelry.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?

New York City is everything all at once. It’s dense, walkable, has great public transportation, and are one of the few places in the country where you still see a magnitude of small businesses and specialties. You can find butchers, bakers, grocers, florists, shoemakers, milliners, jewelers, artists and creatives of all types, finance people, realtors, you name it! In the diamond district alone for example: there you will find every kind of specialization needed for the jewelry industry. A lot of them are also family owned businesses! I try whenever possible to support these businesses, and relationships with your vendors are very important in running a business.

All this makes for a vibrant bustling town. Sometimes, the hustle and grind can wear on people, so you find a lot of frustration and anger as well, which I think contributes to New Yorkers’ reputation of being rough around the edges. But once you scratch the surface, you’ll find that we are some of the most helpful people around!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kristinecabanban.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinecabanbanjewelry/
• Other: https://vero.co/kc

Image Credits

Clay Enos