We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Szilvia Gogh a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Szilvia , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?
ecycled, upcycled, sustainable, ethical… All these words have been very trendy to use lately.
Just like with organic food… it sounds good and we all want to say we eat organic.
I hear more and more business owners advertising that they sell recycled jewelry, upcycled fashion, they have a sustainable business and source their materials ethically 😉
They have one thing in common, they all represent what the fashion industry needs, but in reality, is falling short on.
Sustainability improves the quality of our lives, protects our ecosystem and preserves natural resources for future generations. Going green and sustainable is not only beneficial for my company; it also maximizes the benefits from an environmental focus in the long-term.
Zero Waste jewelry from Gogh Jewelry Design
By creating jewelry from usually discarded bits of rubber and plastic and by sourcing my materials locally or when I am already traveling, I feel like I am making a small but significant step towards a cleaner ocean and a healthier world. I don’t purchase conflict-gems. I package my jewelry in re-usable canvas bags or paper boxes. There’s no extra cost for carbon-neutral shipping through Shopify Shipping. When you purchase a shipping label that has an origin address in the United States, the cost of offsetting the carbon emissions from your shipment is covered by Gogh Jewelry Design. These are just a few things I chose to do to have a sustainable business.
I avoid disposable plastic as much as I can, so they do not end up in the ocean strangling a turtle, whale or seal…
Yes, I would love to see more recycled jewelry, upcycled clothing, sustainable fashion and ethical businesses succeed in the world of Fashion.
To have a sustainable business, it really starts with our individual choices. I find that our businesses are the reflection and result of our beliefs and desires.
I use refillable water bottles. I pack lunches in washable snack bags instead of zip-locks. When I buy shampoo or any products, I opt for bulk rather than small, multiple packages. I keep canvas bags in my car, so when I am shopping, I do not take plastic bags from stores I avoid helium filled balloons for birthday parties as those end up in the ocean. I do pick up trash I see on my way and conduct beach clean-ups above and bellow the surface.
I re-use, re-purpose everything in general.
I am sourcing my jewelry materials locally or when I am already traveling, so I can reduce the number of fossil fuels used to get them to my studio.
Some other ways that I strive to run a sustainable business is using as little plastic as I can, so I use canvas bags for packaging and paper products for shipping.
Szilvia Gogh Giving Back with A Chance for ChildrenHow I give back: I spent the past 20 years not once or twice, but every year (except the last one due to covid) personally showing up and working with at-risk inner-city youth both taking them scuba diving and providing beads and tools to create jewelry for their loved ones around V-day, Mothers Day, Xmas… I am a volunteer inspirational speaker and show up for carrier days at shelters and inner-city schools.
I also donate money to charities that I find empowering and I know the money actually goes to serve people, such as the one I work with A Chance for Children and currently for a Cancer Charity (sales in October go to support https://www.diveintothepink.org/ )
Regardless of who we are, where we live, and what we do, we all have a moral obligation to each other, our future generations, and other species to sustain the planet. Our present choices and actions have huge long-term impacts on future generations. Practicing sustainability ensures that we make ethical choices that bring a safe and livable future to everyone.
The importance of the oceans and Mother Earth in our lives is something I am very passionate about. That is why I created a line of jewelry (Zero Waste Collection) that repurposes scuba diving parts into an expression of our love for the ocean and scuba divers.
I do not feel that I am giving up anything for the planet, but rather that I think about Mother Nature and make counties choices to keep her safe both in my personal life and when I make choices for Gogh Jewelry Design.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hi, I’m Szilvia Gogh, founder of Gogh Jewelry Design. I’m a SCUBA diver, stuntwoman, yogi, cancer survivor and mom. I started my jewelry design business 20 years ago because I love beautiful things, but as an active woman, I couldn’t find any silver jewelry that was both meaningful and functional – so I started creating jewelry myself. I wanted to wear jewelry that reflects my passion for the ocean, my love for travel and jewelry that inspires and keeps my positive outlook on life.
My source desire is to to be happy in my own skin and help others find long lasting happiness too.
My friends and family were always skeptical when I shared my visions and dreams about traveling the world and making a living of my passions: scuba diving and creating jewelry. I didn’t want to end up like most people around me. They also had amazing dreams and visions, but ended up living in “reality.”
I did not want my potentials and opportunities pass me by. My source desire is to be happy in my own skin. I believe that living out our dreams is the key to long lasting happiness. And at the end of the day, we all want to live happy – even during a pandemic 😉
Since I started creating jewelry, people have been drawn to my pieces for the same reason I created them. Beauty and functionality is important, especially when I’m diving, doing yoga or playing with my son Enzo. Having my jewelry be able to keep up with me and stay in one piece is so important to me, and I’ve learned that it’s important to so many other people out there as well. Check out my jewelry and see how it could keep up with you!
Recently inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame, I was the youngest female in the world to become a PADI Course Director ( scuba teacher’s trainer).
Empowerment through teaching people scuba diving and the jewelry I create – has always been important for me. It’s all about being confident in your own skin and not to yearn to be someone else, live somewhere else or look like somebody famous…
When I teach someone to breathe underwater and they experience the state of weightlessness, I open a door in their mind. After you scuba dive, you will never think the same way about Mother Nature and the possibilities in your life than before you swam underwater.
My individually crafted pieces are meant to reflect your journey through life and help you gain the confidence you deserve.
It’s a new world we live in, surrounded with uncertainty. It’s time to focus our intentions for the future. Many of my jewelry designs have mantras and words that have helped me focus my intentions. I use these mantras in my yoga practice or when I meditate. Setting intentions is not as easy as making resolutions. We all want to exercise more or eat healthily or save money more effectively. But setting intentions will help us achieve our goals and resolutions by focusing our energy on our innermost self. My goal is to stay positive.
Find out more about me at www.SzilviaGogh.com.
E-mail her: [email protected]
Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.
As the creator of Gogh Jewelry Design, I pour my heart and soul into every piece I make. Each necklace, bracelet, or set of earrings is crafted with intention and care, using pieces of the earth that I’ve collected during my travels.
For me, every piece is a reflection of my free will, love for life, and the experiences that have shaped me. And I hope that when you wear my jewelry, it makes you feel beautiful and empowered, too.
I don’t strive for machine perfection. If you’re looking for cookie-cutter pieces, Gogh Jewelry Design probably isn’t the right fit for you. But if you appreciate the spiritual, handmade, unique, and meaningful, then I’m confident you’ll love what I have to offer.
Each pendant is stamped by hand, each stone is set with intention, and every piece is assembled individually. As a result, letters may not be perfectly aligned, perfectly centered, or perfectly spaced – but that’s part of what makes each piece so special. It’s a unique reflection of the human touch and the organic, handmade look that I strive for.
I believe that every person is one-of-a-kind, just like each piece of jewelry I create. That’s why I say that each piece is perfectly imperfect – and why I’m so proud to offer jewelry that’s made with love, intention, and care. It’s a unique reflection of the world we live in and the experiences that make us who we are.
So if you’re looking for jewelry that’s as unique and special as you are, look no further than Gogh Jewelry Design. Proudly made by me, in Los Angeles, California, every piece is a reflection of my passion for life and my commitment to creating something truly meaningful.
I hope you find the right piece in my shop and it brings you good vibes and empowerment. Love, Szilvia Gogh
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Authenticity
As a scuba diving instructor trainer, I often ask my candidates to think of a teacher, coach, relative… that they look up to and think that they are great leaders.
Next, I ask them to describe the person. Then I start writing the list on the whiteboard: kind, smart, strong, knowledgeable, well travelled, open minded, interesting, authentic…
Next, we categorize these attributes into three groups. Is it a skill, knowledge or attitude?
Over and over, in every training I host, we conclude the same result. What makes a great teacher / leader is attitude. Skill and knowledge you can acquire, but your attitude is what defines you as a person.
And your attitude really starts with your relationship with your self.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
What do YOU think of YOURSELF? What are you saying about who you are on a daily basis?
You are your own biggest critic and the co-creator of your own life. With that freedom, you have the immense power to decide who you are and who you’d like to become. Trying to please EVERYONE is a recipe for stress, misery and frustration. Be yourself, be real. It’ll be good to know who is down with that.
Our thoughts and words have crafted our present and are currently crafting our future. They affect us and others directly and publicly. If we’d like to see real change in our life as well as success in our endeavors, we must learn to re-program our thoughts and keep them real and positive – especially the thoughts about ourselves!
Authenticity, acceptance, especially self-acceptance doesn’t mean not to strive to be greater. But it is rather a state when you realize that you are comfortable in your own skin. Maybe, even happy.
Wanting to fit in with the crowd is a human nature, but it doesn’t always serve us. Fitting in doesn’t always equal with us being happy.
By accepting yourself right now, as you are, you can and will still strive to grow, go in a direction that fulfills you. You will do things that you are passionate about. You will visit far-a-way places that interest you. You befriend those you find fascinating.
Being happy is for most of us one of the key aims in life. But where we often go wrong is in figuring out which path to take to achieve that happiness.
My own path has been a somewhat unconventional one. In my last year at college, most of my peers were busy applying for full-time jobs with large companies, but I knew that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted to see the world, which was met with disapproval and skepticism by many.
My friends and family were always skeptical when I shared my visions and dreams about traveling the world and making a living of my passions: scuba diving and creating jewelry. I didn’t want to end up like most people around me. They also had amazing dreams and visions, but ended up living in “reality.”
I did not want my potentials and opportunities pass me by. My source desire is to be happy in my own skin. I believe that living out our dreams is the key to long lasting happiness. And at the end of the day, we all want to live happy – even during a pandemic.
Excited, and somewhat scared, I set off alone on my travels. I have been traveling and making a living of my passions ever since. I am a professional scuba diver, stunt women and inspirational jewelry designer. Gogh Jewelry Design is a reflection of free will.
You can never quit. Winners never quit, and quitters never win.
Wear these friendly reminders every day you need a little push to get up make your dreams reality.
Work hard and remember: If it was easy… Everybody could do it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://goghjewelrydesign.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goghjewelrydesign/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoghJewelryDesign
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeEYAydIfejg8wSfsLWqsnw
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/goghjewelry/