We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kalista Kang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kalista, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The mission behind Woolybuds is to incorporate sustainable, conscious sourcing into a more niche genre of jewelry design. By that, I mean sourcing locally and through small businesses/gem faires, upcycling, and through supporting the right online businesses (traceability and transparency). To add another layer of this, I also want to contribute to a cultural shift within more “unique” jewelry in that it can also be long-wear (good design) and high-quality (durable). Too often are more complex and niche forms of jewelry are discarded for their microtrends or poor craftsmanship.

This is integral to me as I am a passionate advocate of environmental ethics and advocacy, superseding my position as an artist. While my designs tend to be more whimsical and fall within various different fashion niches, I would not feel good about producing without holding myself accountable for my values. It is impossible to be completely sustainable with the current market of products and accessibility; however, that does not make it any less important. My educational background is in Marketing with two minors in Sustainability and Entrepreneurship. I am graduating May of this year and hope to go to grad school shortly after for regenerative design. The consumer world and art sphere are highly intersectional especially when it comes to sustainability- it is not just a buzzword, but a necessary cultural shift that I can only hope to contribute to.

Kalista, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Woolybuds is a handmade jewelry and accessory business that focuses on the conscious creation of wearable art. Environmental and socially conscious creation is the center of our values- responsible, ethical sourcing is integrated regularly, and prices vary to encourage accessibility. Initially launched in May 2021 as a small passion project, the business has expanded into several marketplaces and storefronts. I have signed with Tantrum Vintage and Dust Bunny Vintage. Additionally, I have participated in over 50 local marketplaces. Being actively integrated in Portland’s extensive/inclusive art culture is integral to my values and brand identity.

Woolybuds is first-generation, WOC owned and operated by designer Kalista Kang (21 yrs) and is based in Portland, OR. I was born and raised here and I am ethnically Korean. I am also an independent student at the University of Portland studying Marketing with a double minor in Sustainability and Entrepreneurship, graduating this May!

My product line spans varied intricacies of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, charms, and other accessories. I independently source my materials from local and small businesses, namely in local storefronts, Gem Faire, and Etsy shops, while also utilizing vintage/second-hand findings. All products now and in the future are completely customizable upon request and I offer free repairs; these allow for consumers to enjoy their Woolybuds pieces fully. Most of my designs center around freshwater pearls- my favorite material for their versatility and beauty. They come in various different colors, shapes, and are infinitely unique. People say that I can never pick a genre of jewelry, but I think that’s what makes it more meaningful and enjoyable. While I do work in Woolybuds full-time, I never want it to feel like a job.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I started off selling jewelry on my campus and posting on my personal social media pages. I am personally invested in secondhand fashion and have developed a small online community due to that- posting my pieces helped me build confidence in my designs as well as gave me some financial capital to move to in-person marketplaces. My first market was a Pan-Asian market and it opened up my world to Portland local marketplaces. I remember feeling very welcomed even though I was 18 and had such little experience- this later became vintage markets (Tantrum Vintage Market or formerly the Portland Y2K Flea), Cloudcity Flea, First Thursday, etc..

I used to just do a market a month when I was younger, then last summer I started doing 4-6 markets a month during the busy season. This was partially done out of necessity; however, the fact that I was even able to leverage art as a way of income is an immense privilege. Every day I am in disbelief of how many people have supported me in my city and how grateful I am.

At these markets, I was asked to join my first storefront in 2023 by my long-time market business friends, the Tantrum Girls. Now, I have a section in their shop “Tantrum Vintage” and love working with them. The more I popped up in person, coupled with the in-person storefronts, the more opportunities I would get to share my experiences, expand Woolybuds, and grow as an artist. I mainly attribute this to the communities that I am apart of and the lovely customers I have the honor of serving. Today, I walk around my city and I sometimes see someone wearing my pieces, nothing makes me happier. My newest milestone is just acquiring Dust Bunny Vintage storefront on Mississippi as their only jewelry vendor! I could not have gotten that or any of this without persistence, giving back, and genuine passion/care for what I do.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I think the most important thing is to develop relationships with my clients and to be genuine in-person and in online settings. I’ve been lucky enough to get many repeat clients that are happy with their first piece and it is always so meaningful to me to see a face for a second, third, fourth time. Brand loyalty, of course, starts with a good product- I always offer free repairs and I keep my DMS open for client contact. Demonstrating care in a consumer-dominated culture means a lot; I know it meant a lot to me when I was on the receiving end. You are a reflection of your brand- loyalty comes from a momentary bond or impression that you leave on a stranger. I have always been very receptive of my client’s needs as well as grateful to people looking at my jewelry, so in many aspects, my client interactions feel like I am socializing or making friends. Providing a safe space for people to appreciate my art as well as get to know each other in a short amount of time is so important. I love my clientele and the community I am a part of; I am so blessed with a beautiful and immensely kind community of people supporting Woolybuds.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://woolybuds.bigcartel.com/products
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woolybuds/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalista-kang/

Image Credits

@irivision & @cobaltstudios