Meet Shannon Koszyk | Artisan Jewelry Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shannon Koszyk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I didn’t set out to start a business, it just sort of happened. I started making jewelry for myself, I couldn’t find any that really felt like me. I was working in PR in the home furnishings world, working primarily with high end interior designers and they began asking me where I had gotten the jewelry I was wearing. It started organically, there was no plan in place.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Wow okay NO it hasn’t been easy. It started back in 2007. I began making jewelry because I couldn’t find any jewelry that felt like me. It took off immediately and I had no idea what I was doing. It did well with a certain demographic, but I wanted more, I wanted to be in the shows and in the shops I had always loved and coveted but they didn’t know what to do with me. I believe I inadvertently created a genre that didn’t exist and no one really knew how to categorize it. I wasn’t gothic enough or I was too gothic, I wasn’t expensive enough or I was too expensive, I wasn’t religious enough or I was too religious. The trade shows were afraid of it and still are. I learned to NEVER listen, and create your own path. Never listen because if you believe so strongly in something and you know it’s good in your heart you will eventually break through. My jewelry was about the underdog so I guess a self-fulfilling prophecy to some extent. I work with icons who have overcome something and have persevered and who have paid the price. Joan of Arc, Mary, Jesus, Buddha to name a few. I wanted to tell the story of people who came before us and had given their lives for something that they believed. I wanted to empower people to take more chances and live exactly the way they were meant to. Fortune Favors the Bold was my Motto from day one. The best thing about my business now is that my customers always tell me that they feel stronger when wearing my pieces, they feel more protected when wearing my pieces and that they wear my pieces every day and get stopped all the time. Thats the best!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Abbot Kinney – love the energy in Venice, I always have. I also loves the Arts District IN DTLA. I went to FIDM in the 90’s so I love to follow what is happening downtown. I also love old Hollywood, the Hollywood Hills, and Laurel Canyon, so much history. I LOVE LA!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
All of the designers that attend High Point Furniture Market, they are the reason I’m in business. Oh and Wendy Foster in Santa Barbara. The Wendy Foster Dress Shop in Montectio was the first store I ever sold to.

Website: https://www.shannonkoszyk.com/

Instagram: @shannonjkoszyk

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-koszyk-23350220/

Twitter: @shannonkoszyk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shannonkoszykcollection