Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Pake Stephens. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Pake, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

I am very fortunate to have interesting parents who blessed me with a unique name. Being a child of the 80’s, icons like Madonna & Cher had a powerful impact upon me. Since I have always felt like I had a large personality, I wanted to lean into that and so I used my first name as my business name. My entire life people have asked me if Pake is short for anything and my response is always, “Nope, it’s just Pake”. This may have led to some slight confusion since my website and Instagram are both @justPake, many folks think that “Just Pake” is my business name but it’s simply just “Pake”.

Pake, 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?

​You wouldn’t think it by looking at me, but I was raised on a horse ranch in the incredibly rural Matagorda County, Texas. From those humble roots I have traveled far and wide, being fortunate enough to graduate from Texas A&M University and to see a fair portion of this ever shrinking Earth. It is from my travels that I gained a love for adornment since every culture has their own unique form. My works are largely constructed from rarefied and vintage materials that I collect from equally unusual origins. I amass odds and ends from antique shows, junk shops, estate sales, old warehouses, gem shows, foreign destinations, and from the natural world around us. With each creation I attempt to give new life to antiquated styles and materials. I strive to create unique pieces which embolden and empower those who wear them, bits and baubles that are little pieces of armor imparting confidence and splendor. Most of my works are one of a kind or a part of a limited series of 10 or less. I want the individuals who wear my jewelry to understand that each piece is special and unique, not cheapened by mass production. It is just me pulling it all together. Just “Pake”.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Ever since I was a kid I’ve loved making jewelry. It started with stretchy bracelets and strung necklaces and then evolved over time. I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands and being able to see the fruits of my labors. As a child I never imagined that this is what I would be doing full time. I graduated with a degree in International Studies from Texas A&M University and worked as a bartender up until covid. I always made jewelry on the side and supplemented my income by doing little pop ups and selling my jewelry in a few local stores, but when covid hit and the bars closed I had to pivot quickly. All of a sudden my only income was from the sales of my jewelry. I had to learn how to manage my Instagram presence more efficiently and to work out a real production schedule. Many of the stores that carried my wares on consignment at that time gave me back my goods since they were also suffering. This forced me to branch out ever further. I used the down time during covid to reach out and make new connections where I could. Luckily, I was able to get into the Spa at the Hotel Contessa in San Antonio and into a wonderful shop out in Marfa called Pronghorn. Both of these locations have been pivotal in growing my brand awareness and the diaspora of my jewelry. As things started to cool off and life began to return to a semblance of normalcy I really started to have to hustle even more as pop ups came back. Pre covid I was lucky to do one or two pop ups a month and now I’m usually out vending somewhere in Austin every weekend. The vendor life is not for everyone and requires a certain level of dedication, but I find it to be super rewarding.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Word of Mouth. I am a one woman show. This means that I do not usually have the capital for things like advertising. My growth has been entirely organic and stems from my direct participation in my business as well as the connections that I make with my patrons. I cannot tell you the number of times someone has seen me at a pop up only to exclaim “My best friend was wearing one of your pieces and told me about your jewelry!” It always makes my day!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.justpake.com
• Instagram: @justpake
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/justpake