I am glad to introduce Emi Kaz to all of you today. He is a very talented wire jeweler from Malaysia. I am really impressed with his wire jewelry design. They are not many who have chosen to specialized in wire jewelry in Malaysia. He is one of the most creative person that i had ever met in creating Wire and Beaded Jewelry. Read the story below:
Tell us about yourself such as where you are base, other than jewelry making, what is your full time job?
Im always passion about fashion, arts and beauty. I like to observe and create beautiful things. Im had been a freelance make up artist for about 3 years. I have done a lot of photoshooting, function, wedding and etc.
I fell in love with wire jewelry as it the only medium that give me a lot of flexiblity to create something that is unique and amazing according to my creativity. Im working from home and the internet as it the easiest way to sell jewelry without so much capital. As a make up artist i have the advantages to promote my jewelry in newspapar and some local magazine.
Do you intend to make jewelry making your full time profession?
Wire jewelry had one of my full time job as im a teacher, designer and tutorial writer. I love doing it so much as i can expand my creativity and knowledge with arts lover.
How did you start doing jewelry (or beadmaking) as a business? Do you choose to specialize in wire work? Why?
I always read fashion magazine like vogue, in style or in trendandi fond looking at the bold fashion jewelry. Then i search for a medium that can give the flexiblity to create jewelry without soldering coz i dont have basic in art. One day while browsing magazine at Kinokuniya, i found a wire art jewelry magazine and i bought and read it then im obsess creating jewelry since then. I started selling my jewelry to my friends,relatives and my parents mates. My first creation is a dangling bracelet made from Swarovski crystals and sterling silver wire. Then when i learnt more master techniques and skills, i use a lot of precious stone in my works. I had given the opportunity to advertised my jewelry collections twice in newspaper and they giving me the whole column for me to tell about jewelry. I only specilalized in wire because i can shape, hammer or even do a bit of solder with the wire and make the most beautiful jewelry that i can. Wire jewelry is elegent and the variation of designs are endless.
When people start doing jewelry, they tend to try a lot of different things before settling down to something that resonates with them, tell us how has your jewelry work changed since you began?
Wire jewelry had given me the chance to increase my potential in creativity and other knowledge. Throughout my journey in jewelry making, i learnt a lot of thing such as designing, marketing, communicating, computer literacy and much more.
What would you like to work with/or what skill would you like to learn that you haven't yet?
I had learnt a lot and i want to create my own techniques and share it other artisan. And im in the process of learning how to do soldering and wiring.
What inspires you creatively?
My jewelry are mostly inspired from past century and our own beautiful Batik. I try to incorporate Batik colors in my design.
Where do you sell at primarily-website, brick & mortar stores, shows, etc. Based on your experience, where is the best place to sell jewelries?
I sell most of my jewelry through words of mouth. I started open my Etsy shop a month ago and still struggle to get customers. At the moment i sell most of my tutorials at jewelrylessons.com and doing quite well. I dont think there is the best place to sell jewelry, the thing is you have to try everything and find the most effective way for you to sell jewelry.
Do you sell mostly to customers of your local market? What are the main issues you face in selling to international market?
I dont sell a lot to international market yet. For international market it require a lot creaviteness in a design and people love buying jewelry made from precious metal and semi precious stones and they seldom prefer coated item and crystal. The main issue that i have to face is find the resources that sell the most unique stones at a good price. As for local market, we Malaysia prefer Swarovski crystal and dont even mind what types of materials are being used as long as they shine.
Can you tell us about some important goals you have achieved with your jewelry work?
I still have a long way of list that needs to be done in order to achive my goals but at the moment im glad that people appreciate my designs and the best thing is people recognized me as teacher and person that inspired them to do wire arts jewelry.
What advice would you give to someone who is interested doing jewelry as a business?
A beginner, should the solid base in jewelry making and try to be different from other people. You must have the guts in challenging your own creativity. Dont quit your job until you have a substantial jewelry business and confident to move forward. Try sell your jewelry through a lot of medium such as internet, friends, consigment method and dont be shy in promoting your business. Broaden you knowledge by registering to club & forum, reading a lot of books on marketing and designing, learnt every single skill that you can by purchasing tutorials, and the most importantly create your originalty.
Do you have any big/exciting news or different directions for your business this year or year 2009?
I am focusing on creating costume jewelry using copper and colored wire. These creations will be published in the newspaper.
Who are some of your favorite artists and crafters?
My favorite crafters are Iza Malczyk, Mgypsy, Eni Oken, Lynn Merchant, Perri Jackson and Gonzowrap on Metalworkers.org.
Find out more about Emi at emikaz.blogspot.com or call 012-3506358.
Thanks Emi for the interview. I hope to see excel not just in Malaysia but be able to create your own brand internationally.
