I'm starting to do a major revamp of my wholesale line of jewelry, gearing up to do a trade show (hopefully) in New York this fall. Basically everything that's on the KathyVanKleeck.com website is part of my wholesale line. If you've been following along with me for awhile, you'll know that I've gone through some trials with the thread I use in most of my work. Mostly I use this silk from Big Stone. It's a close copy of Gudebrod silk which is no longer available. I use the size F or FF for most things, single strands as well as plying it into cords of varying thicknesses.
I've always loved the sheen and hand of the silk. Plus, the idea of silk is much more appealing than nylon or Tenara. The thing is, it's a natural fiber and wears and abrades much faster than synthetics. I've just started doing a 2-ply cord to string the Stitched Silk series and I'm liking it so far. It's definitely stronger and should be a bit more abrasion resistant. But it's still silk and my worries about the durability of my work will continue. That makes it an area of concern for shops looking to carry the work. I always stand behind the work 100% and will restring or repair pieces for the duration ... but the genuine potential for breakage and cautionary tales to retailers is not one of my favorite conversations.
Today I've been writing down concepts I want to associate with my work. One thing that keeps coming up is durability. I like the idea that my jewels can be someone's signature, go-to pieces without worrying if the silk is wearing out ... kind of like that beloved old Toyota pick-up truck, I want the work to last and last. Plus, I like the idea that someone could wear their Coin necklace rafting the Grand Canyon and not worry about it.
So here's my question ...
Which is more important to you, the aesthetic and feel of silk, knowing you'll have to keep an eye on it ... or the durability and almost as nice a feel of a synthetic?
I thought about Tenara, but the original version only comes in black or white. There's a version that comes in grey, but I'm not sure what a "lubricated" thread would feel like, plus a half pound spool is frightfully expensive.
This Nylon #69 that Marion sells has a pretty nice hand, comes in great colors and, if I buy in quantity, is less than half the cost of the silk. Plus it would be a whole lot easier to use, especially with tiny faceted gemstones, which means faster production time.
I wish I could factor in green/sustainable options, but that seems like an impossible challenge.
To encourage your opinions and feedback I'm throwing in a bit of incentive ...
I'll draw a name from peeps who leave their opinion either here or on my FaceBook page. The winner will get to choose one of the following ...
this pair of Petite Petal earrings
or this Raw Pebble pendant
I'll draw a name on Wednesday the 22nd, 5pm EST. Can't wait to hear what you think ...
Thanks in advance!
l i g a - kvk
If I read it right.....the the silk from Big Stone is sourced in China...so that is not a "plus" for me. If it breaks and you have to redo a piece, that takes a bit away from the sustainable aspect ....no? yes? So the Nylon #69 doesn't seem like such a bad idea all of the sudden. Just my opinion..(of course all of it probably comes from China)
ReplyDeleteI will be interested in what your decision is.
Thanks for bringing up the 'made in China' thing. Just looked and the nylon is made in the USA, so that's another plus.
Deletesometimes your own words answer your own question...i read everything you said here and it seems to be that you were favoriting #69 ...you mentioned only good things about it....you have, in my opionion answered your own question...
ReplyDeletei hate to say it but what isn’t “sourced from China” it pretty much all is these days my friends...where does silk come from? the very computer I am using ...everything....
I would rather have durability. Find an attrative way of describing this wonderful thread that you have carefully chosen and researched.... emphasize the sustainability of the tread, when something doesn’t wear or break that is in reality the very definition of “green”....something breaking...tearing....fraying....nope, not good on any account so go with what will look fab and work even better. wouldn’t you rather see you customers wearing your pieces everyday with no worries...of course you would....blessings and all the best, Cynthia @ Beatnheart
Good point about durability being the "greener" option. I've deferred to the notion of the silk being a more elegant option, but I'm definitely feeling a shift.
DeleteDurability WITH beauty~~I took a quick look at the Nylon #69 and it did look nice. I agree with you that I want my pieces to last, to endure daily wear so that they almost become part of the wearer. Saying that, I've never worked with silk or nylon...so this debate is quite interesting to me~
ReplyDeleteDurability. Your pieces are so beautiful that it seems to me that people (me anyway) would want them to be durable..and not have to worry about fraying, etc.
ReplyDeleteAnd as Beatnheart has said, it seems like you're already leaning toward Nylon #69. I do not think it has to be silk for it to be accepted as a treasured piece.
Thanks for posting this interesting question....I'm also looking forward to the answers.
I think I agree with the other comments. The Nylon#69 sounds like it's the best. Although you are committed to repairing a piece of your jewelry, I would rather have something more durable. And since your pieces are so beautiful, they will be worn often.
ReplyDeleteI echo what the others have said. I would go with the Nylon#69 for durability, colors and value. Everyone likes durability. You could offer the silk as a special order for those who favor the silkier hand. Love your work and wish you much success with the trade show.
ReplyDeleteI vote for the nylon. I love it when something lasts forever, especially my favorite things...one of your pieces would definitely be one of my favorite things. Art created from man made products can be just as beautiful as art created from natural products, it's all about the love from the artist.
ReplyDeleteDurable is ecological even when the material itself is not.
ReplyDeleteI vote for nylon, too. There's nothing worse than paying good money for something you love and discovering that it didn't hold up, no matter what the guarantee is.
ReplyDeleteAfter careful thought, for jewelry that someone would purchase, I would go for the nylon. I wear jewelry all the time so I look for durable pieces.
ReplyDeleteWell, this is really interesting so far ... thanks y'all! It's strange, I've been working with this silk for so long - at least since '05 if not longer - so it's not an easy switch. And at all the serious places my jewelry's been sold - SFMOMA, Seattle Art Museum, Tacoma Museum of Glass, Ansel Adams Gallery, Real Mother Goose - they all liked the silk. So it feels like a big deal to change fibers.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely leaning towards the nylon, but am loving the feedback. Keep it coming and I'll draw a name (probably 2) on Wednesday.
I clicked on the website for the Nylon #69 and I love the colors. Also the comments on there about durability have me sold. And you say it has a nice hand. Adds up to a winner in my book. Durability is very important as a piece might not only break but you could lose the attached piece that is so treasured.
ReplyDeleteHere's another thought against silk. It's not vegan since it's an insect by-product. I don't know how true it is but I just read this: "Approximately 15 silkworms are killed to make a gram of silk thread, and 10,000 are killed to make a silk sari." Most silk is made this way although there's another method called peace silk where the silkworm is not boiled. From this article: http://animalrights.about.com/od/animalsusedinclothing/a/Why-Vegans-Do-Not-Wear-Silk.htm So I vote for the nylon, too. Or hemp since it's an environmentally friendly fiber--unlike cotton--although I don't know if what you need is available in hemp. Best of luck with your decision. (Now down 34 pounds! And happy to be mostly plant-based.)
ReplyDeleteKathy, I had one of your beautiful coin necklaces and wore it almost every day, until it finally broke. I understand the whole silk aesthetic, it is an amazingly lucious fiber. However, I believe that durability is incredibly important and think that the nylon is the way to go!
ReplyDeleteKim! Goodness, I'm really hoping you still have your coin necklace components so that you can send them back to me for repair. Please email me directly for my address (see link on sidebar) and we'll get you squared away ... this is the very thing I'm hoping to address with my work as I move forward. Thanks so much for letting me know. Of course, there's no charge for the repair.
DeleteI emailed you!
DeleteI would also say nylon as it is wonderfully durable. I have worked with all sorts of cord and usually test my pieces on my mom who is the master destroyer of all jewelry. Mom is staunch woman who's jewelry must conform to her, not he other way around. It must be able to hold up to everyday wear and tear, water (ocean, tap, shower/bath, lake, rain) hiking, nursing, biking, gardening, crafting, wilderness cabin maintenance, being slept in and legendary stubbornness. She will wear a piece like it is a second skin and although she is a natural hippy gal, she does like the nylon cord I use when creating jewelry for her as it is the only thing other than metal that can take her wonderful abuse. In her mind, a fair trade off. Silk is a beautiful material but depending on where it comes from, it's production can be very environmentally harmful, especially the dyeing process. I am newer to your blog so I am not sure what your sources are for silk but most of it originates in China where environmental regulations are often almost non-existant and much of the textile industry are heavy polluters. Being that nylon lasts so much longer, less is required so in that way at least it's footprint is a bit smaller I would hope?
ReplyDeleteThere is always going to be some element of the synthetic in what we do, everything in our lives comes packaged in plastic for quick easy use, sadly this is often the cost of living in a modern society. Not to say we should just resign ourselves to this fact but as artists I think making hand made pieces with love and care that are destined to last a lifetime is a great thing, always doing our best to strike a good balance between functionality, longevity and social/environmental awareness. Your pieces are beautiful and life changing, bringing a positive message, hope and awareness to the world. I think that is what is the theme that comes across to the wearer more than anything else. Your prayers for Richie is an amazing positive thing and as someone who has personally fought a life long battle with illness, I know that love and positive intentions are the most powerful thing we can give to the world.