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When and why did you set up your business and why?
It all started off in 2018, as a bit of a hobby really.
By day, myself and Niamh are both fashion designers who are passionate about jewellery and creating innovative pieces.
During COVID, we began to realise that Irish people were becoming more interested in buying locally and supporting Irish brands.
That was kind of a turning point for us, as our followers and sales began to increase.
This allowed us to put some money into our business and develop the image we wanted for our brand.
Then, in 2020, we started designing our own range that focused more on Irish language and embracing traditional Irish emblems in a more contemporary way. The mix of street style into our work gives it the extra edge which people seem to love.
There seems to be a great focus on sustainability in your business, can you tell me some more about this?
When we started designing our own range, we began to think of ways where we could become a bit more sustainable.
All of our base material is recycled brass and then plated with 14 carat gold or sterling silver.
It’s really important for us to work with recycled materials. All packaging is plastic-free and fully recyclable and we also source all of our shipping packaging locally.
How do you get inspired?
As we travel a lot for our day job, we are used to seeing catwalks and trends, but we are also really inspired by vintage pieces.
Our claddagh pieces are inspired by a ring that actually belonged to my nanny.
Also stuff like looking into jewellery boxes from years ago to see what designs were used then. A lot of our ideas bounce off each other and it's great to have a business partner to do that with.
What are you looking forward to this year?
This year was our first year we showcased in the RDS. A few shops have reached out to us, so our aim for 2024 is to get into a few more shops around the country and expand in that way.
In 2022, we were finalists for Arnotts competition ‘Pitch’, which allowed us to get into Arnotts for the Christmas period, which was a huge boost for our business. We then came back in 2023, which was a great way for people to find out a bit more about us.
What advice would you give to someone who would like to pursue a creative venture like yourselves?
Firstly, I’d have to say that you really have to love what you are doing.
For myself and Niamh, this doesn’t really feel like a job, as we really love doing it. Having a passion for something and then just going for it is what you need to help you along the way.
We’ve been part of showcases before that have just really shown how talented people in this country are. Honestly, having a grá for what you are passionate about will always set you apart!
For more information on Don’t Kill My Vibe and to shop, visit: https://www.dontkillmyvibe.ie/
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