We were lucky to catch up with Kathy Karadza recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kathy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’ve always wanted to pursue a creative path. It was never about money and always about feeling happy and fulfilled and necessary. If I am not creating something, even if it is just for fun and not work, it feels like something is missing. I feel happiest when I’m creating and it feels like that is one of my purposes for being here.

I grew up here in New York City going to museums and shows from the time I was in the baby carriage. When I was a teen, my older sister took me to an open audition for a play and I got the part. I had an agent and acted in plays here until I went to college, where I studied costume and set design. Then I worked in costumes for Broadway shows and started making handbags backstage during my downtime using leftover costume fabric. My coworkers asked if they could buy the handbags or place orders for handbags, then I started selling at artist markets and calling local boutiques to show them my work in the hopes they would carry my designs. At that time, I started learning how to make leather bags from books and eventually took a few leatherwork classes at FIT. So, that is how my hobby eventually became a small business.

Kathy, 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?

Katerina NYC is my small business designing and making handbags here in New York City. It started out as a hobby, grew into a passion and a small business. All of my items are made using upcycled materials from prominent fashion brands and are made at my Brooklyn studio or locally. We use the leftover leather scraps to make small items like key fobs, earrings, and bookmarks, and also give away leather scraps to students and fellow crafters for a minimal waste approach.

I think the simple shapes and vibrant colors set the brand apart, and that the items are made in small batches with a lot of attention to detail.

We partner with the nonprofit Shatterproof to raise funding and awareness for addiction recovery services in honor of my late sister and those who have had addiction impact their lives. I think we could probably all benefit from the “never give up” mindset and I’m proud to be trying to inspire others in my small way.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think I’ve had moments where the other person didn’t understand how or why pursuing a creative passion was more important to me than pursuing money. I get it. Life is expensive, especially in New York City. I also get how it might seem crazy to someone else that someone like me would buy a sewing machine over a much needed vacation, or how a struggling musician might buy a new guitar instead of badly needed new shoes. However, I love, love, love that unstoppable passion and drive that is within some of us. Maybe we all have it, but some don’t follow it. Who knows? There is a lot of societal pressure to not take chances.

However, I believe if you focus and work hard and consistently, momentum inevitably happens and the money follows in one way or another. I am not saying it has always been easy. It’s often been a struggle. When starting a business, a lot of the profits go right back into building the business and you still have to pay your rent and eat. It can be difficult, but it is totally worth it. There is a feeling of fulfillment that comes, for me, from creating that will never be replaced by something else. So, I’d say whenever I’ve followed that voice within, I’ve felt happiest and it’s worked out. Everything seems to work out in the grand scheme. So, I’d say, keep going, don’t ever stop trying.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

It’s rewarding just to create things and the process of making itself is endlessly fulfilling. I am grateful when others appreciate my creations and want to have them and wear them.

Contact Info:

• Website: Https://www.katerina-nyc.com
• Instagram: HTTPS://www.instsgram.com/nyckaterina

Image Credits

Kathy Karadza