Karissma Yve is the founder and CEO of Gildform, a startup that connects artists and designers with innovative technology, allowing them to take their concepts from sketch to finished piece in a streamlined process. Karissma has won numerous awards including “Best Idea for Growth” from the New Economy Initiative, “Best Pitch” from Google-sponsored Black Girl Ventures and “Best in Business.” Her involvement in the industry began over a decade ago when she started her own successful jewelry and lifestyle brand, Xenophora, in Detroit, MI. Running every facet of her business ultimately turned out to be unsustainable, and the idea for Gildform was born. Meet the visionary leader behind Xenophora and Gildform in this For the Love of Jewelers podcast episode as she shares her insights on connecting with makers, and the challenges and triumphs of breaking new ground.
Karissma Yve is the founder and CEO of Gildform, a startup that connects artists and designers with innovative technology, allowing them to take their concepts from sketch to finished piece in a streamlined process. Karissma has won numerous awards including “Best Idea for Growth” from the New Economy Initiative, “Best Pitch” from Google-sponsored Black Girl Ventures and “Best in Business.” Her involvement in the industry began over a decade ago when she started her own successful jewelry and lifestyle brand, Xenophora, in Detroit, MI. Running every facet of her business ultimately turned out to be unsustainable, and the idea for Gildform was born. Meet the visionary leader behind Xenophora and Gildform in this For the Love of Jewelers podcast episode as she shares her insights on connecting with makers, and the challenges and triumphs of breaking new ground.
Courtney Gray:
Welcome to For the Love of Jewelers, a podcast brought to you by Rio Grande Jewelry Supply, and hosted by yours truly, Courtney Gray. Now in our third season, we celebrate the unconditional strength driven by our passion to create, and the motivating factors that enable us to adapt. We recognize the relevance and resilience of the jewelry industry through inspirational stories that challenge and honor its makers. Our journey, although unchartered, is one we are on together. Let's pause, share, and discover the variety of silver linings gained from each personal story of innovation and determination.
Courtney Gray:
Karissma Yve is the founder and CEO of Gildform, an on-demand platform for powering ideas. Her team works with brands to create jewelry products from concept to creation, using 3D technology software and innovative manufacturing solutions. The Gildform way enables fashion brands to start, scale and optimize their jewelry products by marrying digital and human technology.
Courtney Gray:
Karissma facilitates self-expression, allowing for a greater sense of human connectivity in an ever-globalizing community by reducing friction in the jewelry-making processes. Karissma successfully led Gildform through the pandemic by adapting to the restrictive economic climate as well as fostering development while adhering to her personal objectives of social responsibility. She has received myriad accolades, including Best in Business, Best Idea for Growth from the New Economy Initiative, Best Pitch from Google sponsored Black Girl Ventures and semifinalist for CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund.
Courtney Gray:
Karissma, welcome to For the Love of Jewelers. Great to have you.
Karissma Yve:
Thank you for having me.
Courtney Gray:
It's my pleasure. And thanks for your patience. Let's dive in together. I can't wait to introduce you to those who haven't heard of Gildform, who haven't heard about you and what you're doing in the industry for the industry for makers. Let's start at the beginning though, how'd you get into this industry? How did you begin?
Karissma Yve:
Let's do it. Yeah. I am the CEO and founder of Gildform. We are an on-demand jewelry design and manufacturing platform. So we work with brands to assist them with creating jewelry products from concept to creation, starting with something as simple as a paper napkin sketch.
Karissma Yve:
And prior to starting Gildform, I actually started off as a jewelry designer myself. I built a global jewelry brand in my basement in Detroit. I had quite a robust but makeshift but still advanced operation in this basement. And from there, I was really just creating as a means of self-expression. And it really just felt like my calling.
Karissma Yve:
From there, I ultimately ended up showcasing collections during Paris Fashion Week, had my own showroom in Le Marais in Paris, France. And then from there, having to deal with the hurdles of operating within the traditional jewelry manufacturing. Actually, I'm going to take it back, starting with making everything myself, that was a lot. As an independent maker, I was doing everything from designing, starting with the concept, vision and then going into the actual designing part, which are two different things.
Karissma Yve:
And so, I was doing the designing, I was doing the production, I was doing the sales, both wholesale sales, retail sales, direct to consumer sales, eCommerce, all of that. Also doing marketing, also doing social media. I was doing all of these things. Not to mention I am lost-wax casting, I am polishing, I'm mold making, I'm assembling, I'm doing all of those things as well.
Karissma Yve:
And pretty soon I realized as I was doing all of those things, going to Paris Fashion Week four times a year, coming back to Detroit to do fulfillment, also at the same time, I'm doing fulfillment for these direct-to-consumer eCommerce sales. And then also trying to be a human and live and breathe and find time to take care of self. I realized very quickly that I was going to at some point end up under my bench rather than at my bench making things. And so, I realized that I was going to fail with my current process.
Karissma Yve:
And when I say fail, I mean fail at what I really wanted to do, my big picture, because I recognize that there was an accomplishment, there is an accomplishment to recognize, where I built this jewelry company, I'm showcasing collections during Paris Fashion Week. There's people all over the world still wearing these jewelry products and passing it down to generations. And so, it's something that like, this is a huge moment where I was like, wow, I did that. I also want more. I also want to have a sustainable practice. I want to have a sustainable lifestyle and a sustainable career.
Karissma Yve:
And leading into that, I was like, well, I'm not going to get there operating the way that I was operating. From there, I did what is known as a SWOT analysis. I was looking at my strengths, my weaknesses, my opportunities and threats. When I did strengths, I have the ability to take an idea and turn it into reality. That is such an important strength. It is one of the most important things to humanity, like our ability to have this conversation today is because of someone else's idea that they then made a reality.
Karissma Yve:
And so, that is my strength, that is my area of genius. And so, I was like, all right, well, where are my weaknesses? I already named all of those for you just now, so I'll skip that. And my opportunities was really like, I think within every obstacle or weakness is an opportunity to learn and grow from. So, I looked at my weaknesses and I was like, okay, here's an opportunity for me to do better and be better. I need a manufacturing partner. It was an aha moment.
Karissma Yve:
And as I started talking to every traditional manufacturer in the US, no exaggeration, I'm that person, talking to all of them, and I realized very quickly that I was going to fail with them or without them. And that became a threat. I had my full SWOT analysis of self and what I was doing with my jewelry brand.
Karissma Yve:
From there, I was like, okay, well, failure's not an option. And what I needed didn't exist in terms of manufacturing, but I realized that I needed a manufacturing partner. And so from there, I got to the point where it was like, okay, well, what's not working in the jewelry manufacturing industry? What's not working is how expensive it is, the long lead times, the barriers of entry, just like the overall process. It's not an easy process to get started into if you're doing everything yourself, if you're self-funding, if it's completely bootstrapped.
Karissma Yve:
You have to have a skillset to manufacture everything self. While I had that skillset, it was limiting in terms of how big I wanted or how much I wanted to spread my vision, how much I wanted to connect with people.
Karissma Yve:
And so from there, I was like, well, what I need as a jewelry designer, as a jewelry brand, as an emerging company that is ready to participate in this $330 billion industry, what I needed did not exist. I have no way to really participate in the way that I want to participate, and I have no way to really truly express the vision and the world that I'm trying to create at this level to reach as many people as possible to inspire them to create for themselves.
Karissma Yve:
And so, very simply, what I needed didn't exist, so I created it. Now, I say it like very simply, it took a long time to get there. It's a lot of work, definitely, going into building a manufacturing company, the only manufacturing company that is in the city of Detroit, and we're leveraging advanced manufacturing techniques, automation, 3D technology. And really focused on efficiency so that we can make the best quality product at the best most accessible price with the most sustainable processes and materials. That was a lot.
Karissma Yve:
And then now we're like putting that into a technology platform. Or now that we have put that into a technology platform, anyone can access it from anywhere in the world where they can go from idea to design, to production, to eCommerce, direct to their consumer, all in one platform.
Courtney Gray:
That is an amazing, wow, wow. Done, like we said.
Karissma Yve:
Right.
Courtney Gray:
Karissma, that's so amazing. So you basically with the SWOT exercise, you were able to identify a huge gap in the industry, and are obviously tech savvy enough, have enough background in that world to make it happen. I'm super impressed. I was excited to read about what you're doing because this is a big struggle for everybody, I think. A lot of the people that I've coached in the past and students have asked, what steps do I take, and how do I hear I have this, what'd you call it, paper napkin design, right?
Karissma Yve:
Yes.
Courtney Gray:
Or a sketch or don't feel like they can even sketch, which comes up, how do I get from start to finish? So, you're basically saying, you guys can do that. You can do from start to finish designs. How intricate can you get with what you guys can produce there?
Karissma Yve:
Oh, very. Very intricate. And not only that, we can start with 3D technology. We have design team that leverages 3D technology, 3D modeling to create, to go from sketch to 3D model. I think the important thing to know about intricacies and 3D modeling is the fact that this is going to be a physical product. And so, in order to go from 3D model to physical product, you need to be mindful of the overall production process.
Karissma Yve:
When we are creating 3D models, our team makes sure that these 3D models are optimized for production, because you can make anything and everything in 3D, but the question is can you make it? And so, that's our goal is to make sure that these products are not, or these designs in 3D are not only to the cut customer's vision or to the creator's vision, but also that we can actually execute.
Karissma Yve:
So, in order to make any idea a reality, you just need three things. It's a lot of things that go into those three things, but it's just three things. You need vision, you need design and you need execution. And so, the design is the technical part of, okay, we're going from vision and we're turning that into a material product. We're going to design that. We're going to get that to form. And then execution, we understand that we have to execute and turn that design into something that someone wears.
Karissma Yve:
So, we not only educate our designers on that process, but we also educate our creators on that process. So, we have certain methodology where we're looking at reminding our creators that you got to think about weight. You have to think about wearability. You have to think about scale, cost, all of those things. And so, we create content educational material so that when they're in that vision and design phase, that they're already thinking about how they will get to execution.
Courtney Gray:
That's huge because if you're going to go in and make, I mean, what's the biggest order you guys have done so far. Could you name it?
Karissma Yve:
I mean, we've done big orders, really big orders.
Courtney Gray:
That's amazing.
Karissma Yve:
So, we do big orders, I'm sorry, I'm going to take it back. Gildform has the ability to do one unit as we have no minimums for our standard let's say Demi-fine fashion specs. While we have no minimums, we could do one unit. We also can do 100, we could do 10,000, we could do 100,000 units.
Karissma Yve:
And so, we have our process which is known as a standard operating procedure where we're looking at like, okay, well, we can do one unit, but when you don't have one unit, when you don't have something on your side, which is known as repeatability of process. So, if you don't have that repeatability of process because you're making something completely new and never existing before, then it can be a little challenge. But with Gildform, our technology, our process, our team really understands how to take that information and then be able to not need that repeatability of process to be able to be successful in the delivery and the execution of a design.
Courtney Gray:
It sounds like you have a big team. How many people are on your team?
Karissma Yve:
We are small but might. We are a team of big personalities. So, we have six people that are a part of this grand vision from the technology side to my manufacturing company. So, it's a lot of, I would actually say that like, I think one of my skillsets, this is a side note, one of my special abilities is the ability to find someone else's zone of genius and then be like, you do that. You do that really well.
Karissma Yve:
When someone is operating in their zone of genius, they can do what feels like anything. And so, when building my team, that's what we look for is like, okay, what's your zone of genius? What are you good at doing? What do you love doing? And how do we get you to do more of that? And then what you see is productivity goes crazy, through the roof. And that's something that we're really, really excited about as we continue to grow the team.
Courtney Gray:
I appreciate that so much. Identifying strengths and weaknesses. And I think in ourselves, like you started the whole conversation with, you have to identify your own weaknesses because you can do every part. I don't think we could do it all alone. So, identifying, well, what am I strong at? What do I love doing? What do I enjoy doing? But I'm loving the definitions that you're giving me today, this is-
Karissma Yve:
Well, I mean, with myself, self-awareness in doing anything is key. I am not the type of CEO that's like, I know it all. I realize that I don't. I look to hire people that are smarter than me, that are more capable in certain areas than me. And so, what I'm like in terms of being the CEO and founder of Gildform is identifying the best people in the best roles and getting them to do what they do best, as opposed to, I don't know, operating from a place of ego. We all are in this together. I would do myself a disservice by not recognizing my weaknesses.
Courtney Gray:
You're a person who sees the gaps and knows how to fill them in a really conscious way. I really do appreciate that. How many years has Gildform been alive?
Karissma Yve:
So, I have been doing jewelry, I've been in the jewelry space for over a decade now. Gildform is actually quite new, which is something that came up, that really took off in the height of the pandemic, which is crazy. When I say Gildform is quite new, this is a brainchild of mine. So this brain child has always lived inside. It's always been there. I've always been working toward this.
Karissma Yve:
And so, it feels like Gildform has been forever for me. In the height of the pandemic, it really took off. We also have never done any real marketing. So, everything has been, all of our traction and we have thousands of customers and creators that are paring their jewelry products with Gildform, and many waiting, knocking on our door, beating down the door to work with us to power their jewelry ideas. And that actually has just been really organic. When you create something that serves a need, it's crazy the traction that you can get.
Courtney Gray:
Yes, obviously. That's fast to have thousands of customers, and you started during the pandemic really putting this out to the public and offering it. What's your plans to scale up? I mean, it sounds like you've got the demand there.
Karissma Yve:
Yeah. We have lots of plans.
Courtney Gray:
It's a whole other episode.
Karissma Yve:
Right. We need to schedule part two.
Courtney Gray:
We may do that.
Karissma Yve:
To put it very succinctly, our main focus in this next phase and next chapter of Gildform is getting closer to the creator. What is it that you need? How can we help you? And embedding that in our technology, embedding that in our process, and creating more the, or being able to plug into other technology forms that are in that process of enabling our creators.
Karissma Yve:
So, an example of something that I am so excited about is our partnership with Shopify, where you understand as a maker, as a jewelry designer, you have to sustain the substance, meaning you love what you do and you want to do it forever and you want that total freedom of being able to create and to work for yourself. You also need to sell those products because you have to pay for your cost. You have to pay your bills, pay for healthcare, you have to pay people if you have people helping.
Karissma Yve:
And so, I call that sustaining the substance. And so, for creators, we look, well, how can we make sustaining the substance easier for them? How can we just make this a crazy streamlined all in one process? And that's what we're doing with eCommerce enablement tools. So Gildform is a platform that allows our creators to upload their 3D models, get instant pricing to the metals market when they are making their specifications of material, plating, polishing assembly. And not only are they getting the real time pricing based on those specs, but also quantity.
Karissma Yve:
And then the more you get, the lower the cost is. But also, they're getting real time visual renderings of what that looks like. That's just base skill form, that's where that was the beginning of the vision.
Karissma Yve:
Now, most recently, we have partnered with Shopify in creating the Gildform, or Gildform has created an app within Shopify that allows for our creators to go from idea to commerce in record time. And starting from a 3D model, they can go to market instantly, which is crazy. In a few simple clicks of some buttons there, you can go from that 3D model to your online store, add in your selling price. Before you know it, your product is online and customers can start purchasing their jewelry products from you, your jewelry products.
Karissma Yve:
And after that process, so let's say someone purchases a piece of jewelry from your online store, Gildform only charges you for production only when you get an order. So, we don't charge you for production until you get that order. So if you think of it from the perspective of produce as you go or pay for production as you go with our print-on-demand model, we also are doing drop shipping as well. So you go all the way from design to production and then the product is manufactured and produced, and then shipped directly to your customer with your own custom packaging. So it's like, you can focus on operating in your zone of genius.
Karissma Yve:
So that's where we're like, when it comes to logistics, when it comes to all of those things, is that really what you want to be doing, is that really you operating in your zone of genius? And so, when we were talking to our creators, they were like, no, my zone of genius is a lot like mine, where it's like my ability to turn an idea into reality, my vision. And so, we focus on the execution. How do we help you get your vision to market faster? How do we help you make money on your jewelry products faster? We worry about the production and the logistics side of everything.
Courtney Gray:
What a gift. What a gift. That sounds like you'd have so much more time as a designer and maker to just sit and design. Golly, this is exciting. I'm excited, your offering, it's very new, I don't know of anything else like it. So, congratulations to you. Yeah.
Karissma Yve:
Thank you. We are the only. For me on a personal note, doing what has never been done before is exhilarating. It is challenging. It is something that we all can be a part of making it happen. We're all a part of that. And so, it's so exciting. We also announced more recently that we are supporting creators even further by financing their production up to $50,000 for their Gildform orders.
Karissma Yve:
So, that means that, let's say you have the traction, you have a retail store, or you have a trade show opportunity or whatever it is, and you need a higher volume or a higher quantity order, that's typically a very high upfront cost. And so what we do is we've partnered with Credit Key, which allows for our creators to produce now, but pay later, and pay over time in a way that makes sense to them.
Courtney Gray:
That's amazing. I think that's one of the biggest hurdles is I can't afford to produce all of these pieces that I need for this show. So many great things that you're doing, I love it. What would you say to somebody who just has this idea and they're wanting to approach, sounds like you're very community focused and very creator focused, and will coach them through that process? But again, you guys can only handle so much. I don't want your door to get knocked down after this episode airs, Karissma. You're going to be like, okay.
Karissma Yve:
Knock it down.
Courtney Gray:
Knock it down, we're ready. You turn from six to 12 employees overnight. They have no idea what CAD is. They don't feel like they could draw this design. What do you say to somebody who's like, but I really want to get this produced, I want to see the tangible product and I want to get it to people? I want to share my vision. I don't know, what would you to somebody in that space?
Karissma Yve:
I'd say do it. I'd say step outside of your comfort zone and do it. And trust in the expertise of our team to be able to translate your scribbles because I know that I am not, me personally, I don't sketch, I'm not great at sketching. I am so far from the Leonardo DaVinci type. I don't think that's my zone of genius if you will. I would say that just like, just do it.
Karissma Yve:
We have a help center where you could just really look into. We have so many instructions when it comes to designing with Gildform. We even have templates that guide you into sketching. So those templates are so helpful. And then we also are doing a weekly creator workshop series, which is like a webinar where creators can come and join this webinar and learn from our team of experts alongside other experts within the industry to be able to give them any additional tips that's not currently on the help center.
Karissma Yve:
We really focus on being able to offer that education. But at the same time, you have to take the first step. You have to reach out and shoot your shot. Here's a sketch, I don't know if you can understand it, but it's starting the conversation. And then when you start the conversation, you get the momentum, you get the ball rolling.
Karissma Yve:
So maybe we might need more information from you. That's okay, because now we're getting closer to you getting your final product. But you won't get there unless you start.
Courtney Gray:
I have a good friend who reminds me of that all the time, just begin, just dive in. You kind of face each challenge as it comes up. That's kind of the fun part too, it's like, how can we get creative together and how can we bring this to life? What a wonderful opportunity for people. Even if you're not a maker yet, you can kind of get into this industry. I love it. Does it have to be in CAD? I guess probably so, right?
Karissma Yve:
Yeah. Yup. We're leveraging 3D technology to be able to get you instant pricing because that is really what we believe is the future when it comes to sustainable jewelry manufacturing, when it comes to efficient cost-effective jewelry manufacturing.
Courtney Gray:
So, it's okay if you guys don't know what CAD is or how to do it, Karissma's got a team that can walk you through that. Cool.
Karissma Yve:
Exactly. Exactly. You really don't need anything. You just need your sketch or reference images. If you are a maker and you're like, I am more comfortable with fabricating some things, you send us a picture of that. If we can create it in 3D to help you save some time on that fabrication, then let's look at it. There are limitations, but then there's also so much opportunity. And it really just depends on what the goal is.
Karissma Yve:
I think that everything's not for everybody. Gildform is not for everybody. If you're the maker that's like, I just want to make things, that's okay. Still attend the creator workshop series because from there, you could learn some things that you can apply into your eCommerce strategy or marketing strategy. I think what is amazing about Gildform is that we are really just empowering makers and creators.
Courtney Gray:
Yeah, from start to finish. That's amazing. Tell us more about you. What do you do besides run this enterprise, Karissma?
Karissma Yve:
Great question. I do that. I had a moment where I'm like, oh, someone asked me, well, what's your hobby? I'm like, oh, do I have hobbies? I don't have hobbies. I think that's the beauty of doing what you love every day. I am jumping out of the bed every morning to do something new and exciting or do the grunt work within running the businesses that I have started and in the process of scaling. When I'm not working, which is something that I think is really important to be mindful of self.
Karissma Yve:
Some of the things that I really enjoy is like, I love to read, I'm an avid reader. I like to just really tap into my creative space, whatever that is. I love writing more of like streams of consciousness. And somehow work, it comes into it, or I might get an idea, but I think that's the beautiful thing of just taking time for play. I'm trying to do more of that, that's one of my goals is like, how can I make time for me to play, whether it's just doodling some things or writing streams of consciousness or reading, or watching something or just hanging out with family, making sure that I have time for that, or actually making sure that I prioritize doing that.
Courtney Gray:
Yes. As entrepreneur brains, it's very difficult to sidetrack and kind of get back to that playful place. I used to teach lost-wax casting actually, and I'd have students come in and want to make that piece the master, the first one is the masterpiece. I would say, we're in kindergarten right now, we're just going to play. So, we have to give ourselves permission I think when you're so serious and driven, like you are ambitious and have these big ideas and big dreams, juggling that with I also need to play, be playful here, because that's where creativity kind of really, the new ideas are flowing through.
Karissma Yve:
Absolutely. I think it gives space. It clears the air. It gives space for new ideas to be birthed, whether it could be just a crazy idea that you're going to do nothing with or an idea that you can apply into whatever it is that you're doing. I like to make perfume. That's a thing. I also did perfume for my jewelry company, started off as jewelry, got into perfume, then skincare.
Karissma Yve:
When I'm playing, I am making a fragrance, and it's like a little vial and then I will give it away to a friend. And then they are like, now they're the ones beating down my door for, can you make me a full-size version of this please? Then they want me to make it back into the business and reintroduce that.
Karissma Yve:
I find that really makes space for other creative ideas. I think just going back to that initial point is that I think that's one of the beautiful things of doing what you love, sometimes it's like it's hard and I need to go to sleep, and just sleep it off. And other times it's like, oh, I love this, because running a technology company where I am leading the product development, the tech product development, and then also running a manufacturing company where I'm leading the standard operating procedure and looking at ways that we can improve and grow, that's such creative work.
Karissma Yve:
And at this same time, I'm always seeing what's going on from our design teams to our production facility. And I'm like, wow, look at these beautiful jewels that are the beginning of something amazing or the middle of something incredible for a jewelry brand, or a brand that's a fashion brand. So, we don't only work with jewelry companies, we work with all types of companies that want to build their world and connect with their customer base through jewelry.
Courtney Gray:
Do you have a favorite success story of one of your designers so far? I'm sure there's a few.
Karissma Yve:
I love all of the stories because I think that just going back to, I'm just so proud of our creators. I always say, in the beginning, the first time we ever connect, I do a lot of the complimentary consultations, I lead the creator workshop series. I'm like, congratulations to you for taking this step.
Karissma Yve:
I mentioned before in your previous question, with someone just getting started is to just do it, just get started. But that's not easy. I think that is a major success story, just starting, just starting the process is incredible. And then taking the next step, pushing it further is so amazing to me.
Courtney Gray:
To kind of play in all the parts and all the steps, that's really great. Offering that upfront consultation I think is hugely important. Here's the steps, let's break it down. So it's not so overwhelming. I think this can be a very overwhelming thing to get into. There's so many possibilities that it could really blow your mind.
Karissma Yve:
Absolutely. Especially when you think with Gildform, I get pricing is instant. How does that work? I think it's also too, if you think about the, at one point, there was elevators and there were elevator operators inside of those elevators. Can you imagine what it felt like for the first person who walked into this elevator without the elevator operator? And they're like, wait, I get to push the buttons myself. That's probably terrifying. That's like, wait, hold on, where is that man that is helping, in his get up, helping me go to the next floor? Where is he at? Can he get here?
Karissma Yve:
And even though you have all the buttons, even though you have the power to go to the next level yourself, you can press that button and get there on your own, people are still expecting the elevator operator. And so, the traditional jewelry industry is the elevator operator. That's it.
Karissma Yve:
And so, with Gildform, you can press the buttons and go to wherever you want to go. And we support you throughout that journey, we're there with you, but you are in full control over that.
Courtney Gray:
That's a great analogy, I love that. Progress, right? Progress.
Karissma Yve:
Exactly.
Courtney Gray:
We don't need the guy in the elevator, but what does he do now? He doesn't have a job, we got to fill some other gap.
Karissma Yve:
Right, exactly.
Courtney Gray:
What do you do at work to keep your team empowered and having fun?
Karissma Yve:
Yeah, that's a great question. We are just such open collaborators. I think recognizing that we are humans, and we are going through life. Especially during this time where there's so much going on in the world, we frequently just check in. We like to play too where it's like, okay, well, what if someone on the team has an idea and they're like, oh, let's try this, we're all for that. I think that's something that's really encouraged as a part of what it is that we do. And myself, I like to empower the team to do that, to operate again in their zone of genius and do what they do.
Courtney Gray:
It's always a challenge I think to, we're working, but we're also producing and we're having fun. We're creating. I think that's a huge thing to identify is where's your strength and what brings you joy? What do you want to be doing? You still got to do the grunt stuff too, like we have to work. Sometimes it's not all fun, but yeah, keeping your team empowered is so important. So important.
Karissma Yve:
I think jewelry is one of the hardest things to do. You think about it, we're transforming these precious metal grain into something incredible when we're casting. When we're fabricating, it's like we're taking hunks of metal and turning that into just these beautiful shapes and forms. That's not easy work. That is hard labor, physical labor. That's your body doing work to transform a material that comes from the earth. And we're polishing and we're burnishing and we're making it shine and bring it to the highest point of brilliance. And it's just like, that's not easy. That's hard. That is hard work.
Karissma Yve:
I think that with this work, with doing has never been done before, comes with a great deal of responsibility. And our team, my team, they're so excited to be a part of that journey where when they're looking at the jewelry product, when they're looking at the work, they're not necessarily seeing the product itself, but they're seeing the creator behind the product.
Karissma Yve:
Gildform has also created its own manufacturing software that that manages all facets of production. And it's really built for on-demand jewelry manufacturing, or on-demand manufacturing as a whole. Anyone that's producing, they're using this ERP, this software to power to manage all facets of production. When they are creating and using this technology, they're documenting the process and they're doing all of those things. When they look at orders and they do this order intake process, what they see is the bio of the creator, which is like, oh wow, there's this connection of, oh, I get it. I see what this product or what this jewelry design is about. I see what this creator or this brand is about.
Karissma Yve:
It's something that fuels us, it powers us to like, okay, we about to do it. We're about to knock out thousands of pieces or thousands of items of this one design. I think it's something that keeps the team inspired because it's not just you. It's like the creator. We like to communicate that, Gildform is communicating that throughout the entire process. It's like, this is who you're making this for. This is what this means to them. And that's what this entire like process is about.
Courtney Gray:
Customization for these different creators.
Karissma Yve:
Exactly. But for the artisan, when they see it, they're like, oh, okay, it's not just like a ring. When you're doing something and you're doing the same task over and over and over again, you're polishing, it's the same thing that you're doing all day, that can get really redundant. But also, there's something about knowing what the purpose is behind doing the work that you're doing.
Courtney Gray:
Is that your favorite part of the process is meeting with the creators?
Karissma Yve:
Yeah. I would say connecting with them is such an inspiring part for me. Because again, I'm learning from them, I'm being a part of that process of helping them transform their vision and go all the way to execution. I do love that.
Courtney Gray:
I can tell that really lights you up. That's your zone of genius.
Karissma Yve:
Yeah, it is. You wouldn't think that I'm an introvert, I'm probably more so like an ambivert, but I love connecting with people on that one-to-one level, or just an intimate group, we all came here for this purpose. Let's do it. Let's talk about it, and let's give ideas and offer support.
Courtney Gray:
Yeah. I think that's part of, we're working at the bench, we're alone, we're kind of in our own little zone. If you can find that community anywhere, especially now, of course, with pandemic, like how do we do that digitally? How do we connect? How are we connecting today? And actually, I'm getting to meet with you and you're in Detroit and I'm in Austin. We've really had to step up and discover new technology or technology that was kind of sitting there waiting to be used. Well, I'm excited.
Courtney Gray:
I guess what I'm asking is, what silver linings have you found from this whole event that we're going through with this pandemic?
Karissma Yve:
So, I think that what I saw was validation, like market validation, because for so long, I was like this traditional manufacturing, does it work? What I saw was market validation, which is like, okay, well, when the stuff hits the fan, what happens? Can people still produce? Can people still create? And through Gildform the answer is yes. And any other pathway, the answer was no.
Karissma Yve:
And so what I saw was like, oh, okay, I was right about this. I think that was something that was just like validating because we saw an increase in demand during a time where, and I mean, it was crazy. We've never lived in anything like this. And to be in this and also at the same time to offer a tool, offer a platform for someone to create, to power their ideas, to feel empowered to create their ideas because now they have an easy way to do it, now they know exactly what to do because the process is so simple, now that they're ready to press the buttons themselves and go to the next level on that elevator, it's something that for me was truly eye-opening to just see that validation. I was like, wow, okay.
Courtney Gray:
Yeah, I was right.
Karissma Yve:
I mean, like, I knew it, but I didn't want to say I told you so.
Courtney Gray:
But now I see, yeah, this is definitely a necessity. That's awesome. I'm so excited. I almost went through the process before I met with you. I was like, well, I want to get in this game, I want to play.
Karissma Yve:
Let's play. We'll talk, we'll talk.
Courtney Gray:
I got a sketchbook full of designs that I won't have time to produce in my entire lifetime. It's like, well, yeah, we all need a team of people. I think you're right, though some people really feel like they need to touch the piece. Each piece needs to be touched by them. That's a huge trust I would think to hand that over to your team and say, well, they're going to touch the whole process. I'm not even going to see it; it's going to go to the customer. There's a little letting go there I would think.
Karissma Yve:
Yeah, there is. I mean, we can do it in a couple of different ways. I think the print on demand and drop shipping is a pathway. And then there's also the pathway where you can place your own orders and you can still get it. An example of doing that is like, let's say you will have a design, but you want to add in the gemstones yourself because your zone of genius is gemstone setting. Like, okay, well, we can produce it and send it to you and then you can set your stones.
Karissma Yve:
And then there's also other pathways too that are relevant, because like I said before, is that like, everything isn't for everybody. And I think there could be some pathways that make sense for creators. An example is, there are creators that, to your point, want to be a part of that creation process. That may be the reason that they got into the jewelry industry. That may be the thing that gives them joy in their life. And they can still have that. My question would be, can you do both? Can you just do your thing, maybe have a different, and that's just a matter of strategy.
Karissma Yve:
So, we see a lot of creators that might be makers and they're like, I'm doing this. This is the collection that will be a higher price point. This is something that I can take my time with it because I'm making it myself. I don't want to overexert my body because you're one person, you can only do so much on your own. That is the reality.
Karissma Yve:
But going back to can you sustain the substance with maybe a ready to wear collection. Or something that's made on demand and drop shipped. Those are all things that I definitely encourage a creator to think about as they're going through their journey because I know that when I was designing for my jewelry company, when I first started, I'm like, I'm doing everything myself. I did that, I've been there. And I was like, oh, I can do both, I can do everything self. And I also can sustain the substance.
Karissma Yve:
So, when you think about some of these huge companies, let's take a handbag company, they might be selling $5,000 Gucci bags, you can get a $5,000 Gucci bag. But think about how many $5,000 Gucci bags are actually sold. And then you ask yourself, how many Gucci key chains were sold. There's the lower price point, which brings up the accessibility, or the fact that this key chain maybe more available. Maybe that $5,000 handbag is only made on a limited basis or is limited edition. So, there's so many that they can produce, but there's larger quantities available for the key chain. So, you're selling more of that.
Karissma Yve:
And so, what you'll see is that these more accessible pieces or more accessible ready to wear items are actually what's funding the other projects. I love strategy. I think another thing that I truly love is like, okay, well, would that work for you?
Courtney Gray:
Yeah. That's a really, really great way to explain it. Make time for yourself to make the things that you really love. How do you fund that? I love the sustaining this substance, where'd you get that?
Karissma Yve:
I actually got it I believe, I mean, I don't want to get to lying, but I feel like I saw that it is a Sojourner Truth telling this shadow to sustain the substance. And I saw that at an exhibition. I can't remember where in the world I was, but I saw it, and that stuck with me, sustaining the substance. This is the substance; this is what I love. This is my freedom, what gives me this sense of freedom, especially living in a world where we may feel tied down, stressed, bogged down by just the reality of life sometimes.
Karissma Yve:
To feel free, there's certain things that you want to do. And it could be creating in order to like, I'm like, for myself, I'm like, well, how can I do what I love doing forever? You got to sustain it. And so that's where you could essentially fund your handmade collection through that means of on-demand manufacturing. It's still an expression of you, it's still you taking potentially your style and being able to translate that in just a different form, a different method.
Courtney Gray:
And to get your work out there on a much larger, more broad market than you could probably do on your own.
Karissma Yve:
Yeah. More people are going to see the key chains because there's more of them, and more people probably can afford them than the $5,000 bag.
Courtney Gray:
Create the accessible pieces so that you can create the masterpiece.
Karissma Yve:
Right. Exactly. And as master jewelers, you want to be able to offer that too.
Courtney Gray:
Oh my gosh, I'm learning so much from you, Karissma. I don't even want to ask the question about being female entrepreneurs, but I kind of love what you said off the clock earlier. Off the clock. What did you tell me? I kind of don't know how to answer that question, it's like, I'm just a person doing my thing.
Karissma Yve:
I'm an avid podcast listener. I go to the webinars. I love like listening to experts and people that are smarter than me talk. One thing that I never get or have never seen in life through all of the seminars, webinars, podcasts, interviews, YouTube things, I've never heard any interviewer ask a man what it's like to be a man in their respective field. I've never heard that. I've never heard anyone like, you're in the jewelry industry, what is it like to be a man operating in the jewelry industry?
Karissma Yve:
I actually was at a, where was I? I was attending a webinar at a conference, or I'm sorry, seminar at a conference. In this conference, speaking on the stage were men designing undergarments for women. And I was curious, going back to the questions, because as women, we've been getting the question of what is it like to be the woman in X, Y, and Z, or being a woman in X, Y, and Z? So, I heard that throughout the entire conference, women coming up on stage, what is it like to be a woman in this? What is it like to be a woman in that?
Karissma Yve:
When I see these men making bras and underwear for women, I was expecting, I was hoping to hear, what is it like to be a man making bras for women? I didn't get that. They did not ask them that. And I was just like, wait, hold on, I want it to be like, I feel like we're missing a question that every woman was asked. Can we ask that?
Karissma Yve:
All jokes aside, I was very surprised at that. And I was curious myself, I was like, have you worn a bra before? Just in terms of, I don't know, I think that is just a very unnecessary question of like, what is it like to be a person in your body at whatever gender doing the thing that you do? I don't know. What is it like to be a human? Can we not pay bills or? It's a very interesting thing.
Courtney Gray:
It is. I never knew how to answer that. I just never really thought about it.
Karissma Yve:
I will say that there are real life discriminations against women, and being a woman of color, recognizing that, there are real life experiences that I've endured and many other women and women of color and the LGBT+ community have experienced and endured in whatever it is that they're doing and recognizing that. And so I would love to, I don't know, I see a question or, I'm not an interviewer, that may not be my area right now, but I'm curious to know, what is a productive question in terms of like, well, I recognize that is your experience. What is that like? Because I know for me as a black woman doing what has never been done before, it's challenging. As with anything. As with doing anything that has ever been done before.
Karissma Yve:
There's bias, there's so many barriers that come with my existence, which sucks. But also, I think that I'm, I know that I'm built for it. It is what it is, let's go.
Courtney Gray:
You can handle it.
Karissma Yve:
I think that one, you can't be what you can't see. And so, for me, in whatever power that I have, making sure that women are exposed to other women, doing the things that the society may not be accustomed to seeing, even though that they're doing it, they just may not be getting the exposure, and so on and so forth. And so, I think that that's important. It's just understanding that like, yeah, we may be "underrepresented," but we're really underestimated, which is one of the things that I love that I heard from one of our investors is like, we are really underestimated, but we're here, we're here.
Courtney Gray:
Yeah. Yeah. Allows you to sneak up.
Karissma Yve:
Right. Exactly.
Courtney Gray:
Like all right, just watch out. Here we go.
Karissma Yve:
Exactly.
Courtney Gray:
I can imagine. As a white woman in this business, maybe I have not experienced those hurdles or those obstacles. It is important questions to ask and to keep talking about, I think. But yeah, I don't like being asked what it's like to be a female. I'm mostly male.
Karissma Yve:
I would say it's dope, it's cool, I like it. I think that it is what it is. I think it's interesting, it's a lot. I know that I have experienced things that maybe my male counterpart or cisgender white male counterpart has not experienced. It's like, well, I'm still here. I'm still here, so what's up?
Courtney Gray:
Yeah. I like to use some of those things, I guess I did have some men come in and say some things like, I'm surprised that you were able to build this. And it's like, why? We didn't think you could do it. And it was like, that kind of fueled me a little bit, it almost made me want to achieve even a higher-
Karissma Yve:
I've gotten, I've gotten, oh, so who's the person that owns the manufacturing company. I'm like me. And they're like, no, no, no, no, I mean, the person that owns it, that started it. Where is the person that did this? Who's the person that's behind the technology? Who's the person that, and I'm like, it's me, it's me. It's not like there is no I in team because I do have an amazing team, but there's an M and there's an E, and it was me. I built the team.
Karissma Yve:
I think when I first started to encounter that it was frustrating, but now it's like, all right. Now I'm used to it, which is like, you shouldn't have to get used to the thing like that. But it's a thing.
Courtney Gray:
Yeah. You'd think we'd be more advanced as humans.
Karissma Yve:
What is it like to be a human?
Courtney Gray:
I'm a singer too, Karissma, and have a band, and we just started singing this song called History Repeating. And it's so relevant right now, it just seems like we're going back and back over and over things. And it's like, when do we get to really two steps forward? I think it's happening, but it's just such a slow, what did we say earlier, change is slow, it's slow. Sometimes we want it to be a little faster.
Courtney Gray:
Where'd you get your education? How do you know so much about the digital world? Did you go to school and get a degree for that or?
Karissma Yve:
I'm self-taught.
Courtney Gray:
Wow.
Karissma Yve:
Self-mastery.
Courtney Gray:
Marketing and all that?
Karissma Yve:
All of it. Yeah. I think the school of self-mastery, I'm definitely self-taught, and it's something that I'm really proud of. I think that my journey is unique. Like I said, I'm extremely proud of that.
Courtney Gray:
That's amazing. You sound like you have some sort of master's degree. The self-mastery, I love it.
Karissma Yve:
Self-mastery. And that's something that's always, like you're always, I think when you are looking toward just being better versions of yourself and looking at that continuously, you never stop learning. And so that mastery never ends, or that work to mastering never ends, but you master certain things at certain points. I'm extremely proud of the accomplishments and the accolades and the barriers that I've overcome. I'm looking forward to continuing that. It's such a journey that I'm here for.
Courtney Gray:
Sounds like you really have identified your purpose. What do you hope to achieve, at least in this part of your life? Things change.
Karissma Yve:
We are evolving, we are constantly changing. If you're not, that's you. I know I'm always changing; I'm always evolving. But one thing that's a constant, that has been a constant since I was young is, and when I say young, like young young. Since I was a little girl, I knew what I wanted to do. It's kind of trippy.
Courtney Gray:
I was going to ask you about that, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Karissma Yve:
Yeah. I wanted to be exactly who I am today. Yeah. Yeah. I didn't know it was going to be jewelry though. I knew that I needed to power an idea, I had ideas and I needed to power them. I knew that that's what I was going to be doing. I want to say I was like 10, maybe younger. No, actually like seven. I went to my dad hysterical, crying. And I was like, I have low self-esteem. And my dad was like, what do you know about self-esteem? You're a child. What is that? I was like, I have low self-esteem and I need, and I had a plan. I was like, I need to go to these modeling classes. They will teach me etiquette; they will teach me self-esteem. And he was like, what?
Karissma Yve:
And I just found it in a newspaper clipping, like one of those ads. And it was something that, I don't know, I just like came across it, and I was like, this is what I need. I needed this. It probably was one of those scams or just really wasn't, they made promises of you being a TV star or something. And I knew that, I was like, I'm not a TV star. The benefits that they were also selling, which is like, public speaking and being comfortable in front of a camera, and all of those things.
Karissma Yve:
I didn't know at that time exactly that I was going to have to attend podcasts and tell my story. I recognized that like, I was like, I'm not ready for that, I got low self-esteem. I don't even know what I was thinking.
Courtney Gray:
At age 10.
Karissma Yve:
Right. I was like little girl talking about I got low self-esteem. But it was true. I recognized a weakness. And I was like, here's an opportunity for me to get better and be better. And my dad, we did not have the money for these classes, they were so expensive. But he was like, why do you want it? Why do you want it? And I was like, I don't know how, I don't know at which point in my life, but I know that I'm going to be somebody to inspire people. And I can't be the person that is inspiring people without getting okay with self. I probably said that probably like less articulate, but I was really advanced for my age.
Karissma Yve:
I was like, I can't be that person that will show other little black girls that they can do this or black women that they can do that, or just people in general that they can live their life and be in control of building their own world that they want to live. I was like, I have to be ready for this. And he was like, what? This is a car note payment. Every week, how do we afford this? I was like, okay, it was just my idea. And he made it happen. He made sure I went to those classes.
Karissma Yve:
Now actually, he saw me on the local news here, and he was like, he saw it, and then he called me and was like, "Thank God I invested in you early on. I'm so glad we did those modeling classes." He still calls it, I think he's like, my family still does not know what I do for real, for real, so they have no idea what's going on. But he's like, "I'm so glad you got those modeling classes."
Courtney Gray:
They paid off.
Karissma Yve:
Right. I think it's something that I always knew that I was going to be doing something that required me to show up as my full self. I think that's what it was like. It wasn't about, I didn't think that I was going to be on podcasts, podcasts didn't exist at that time. I didn't think that I was going to talk about my company on a stage or on a news segment or whatever it is. What I wanted was to be prepared to show up as myself. And I realized that what I needed, what I was doing, what I wanted to do, required me to show up as myself.
Karissma Yve:
And so, as little Karissma, that was my way of like, I wouldn't recommend it, I think there's other ways to empower, I think it was just during that time. But I think that was something that, I don't know, it just gave me that confidence to show up as myself. Yeah.
Courtney Gray:
That's pretty powerful to hear that story, Karissma, you knew pretty early on. I spent my 20s flopping around like a fish out of water trying to figure out where, I know I'm supposed to do something, I'm supposed to have this creative business, it's going to really help a lot of people. I had no idea it would end up being in education at the time, but it's just so interesting how when you feel those intuitive pings throughout life and you follow them, where we end up, it's pretty powerful.
Karissma Yve:
And that's okay. I would say that one of the beautiful things about still navigating what it is that you want to do is that you can try so many different things. And also, that there is so much beauty in that journey. Like I said, I didn't know that I was going to be doing jewelry. I was like, I'm going to be a fashion designer. I'm going to be making these artful clothing and very conceptual. So that was when I was in my teens, I was like, oh, I'm going to be a fashion designer. And then I was exposed to jewelry making, and I was like, oh, that's what it is.
Karissma Yve:
But I think that when you are journeying through getting to know yourself, journeying through self, it's such an exhilarating feeling as well, where it's like, you can also apply that number one, experience. There is no dollar amount that you can put on an experience. And so, I think that's something that people sleep on, being able to have all those experiences and experience yourself, I think that's what human nature is about, is like experiencing yourself, learning yourself. People think that like, oh, you're this, this is who you are and at any point in time, that person that you are should not change.
Karissma Yve:
I look at self as something that someone, something that I'm like learning and journeying through and getting to know. And defining and redefining as I go along. It's such an incredible process and feeling, and it also kind of gives you a moment to be like, okay, I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing as a person. I'm learning myself. I am experiencing and enjoying myself as opposed to the limiting beliefs of you have to know what you want to do; you have to know who you are. That's such a constricting feeling.
Karissma Yve:
I just so happened in my journey to know what I wanted to do. It just so happened to be that way. And I'm grateful for my journey, but I also feel like I've just been, for so long, I have been so focused on this goal. I think that's just a part of my journey.
Courtney Gray:
Well, you do a little bit towards your goal each day, you're going to succeed, no matter what it is, I think you could really do anything.
Karissma Yve:
Exactly.
Courtney Gray:
But I love that you're so identified with really getting to know yourself. I was thinking the other day, I was like, you better learn to really love yourself because you're stuck with you.
Karissma Yve:
That part.
Courtney Gray:
You're the one that you're with forever.
Karissma Yve:
People, friends, they come and go, but you are there. I think the learning to love yourself is such a great thing, where it's like, okay, I may not love who I am today right now in this moment, how I showed up. I may have not loved the petty part in me that just came out in that moment or whatever it is, but I am learning to love myself, I'm learning to forgive myself, give myself grace. I think all of that is connected to the work that we're doing as creators, as makers, as entrepreneurs.
Karissma Yve:
I think that one of the mistakes that entrepreneurs make is like, and that's maybe I think a mistake that I may have made, where it's like, let me focus on my entrepreneur goal or my business, or my brand. But also, there's that focus on self too, because if you're not good, nothing that you do will be good either. So, you cannot pour from an empty cup. And so, I think that's something that I learned throughout my journey is okay, well, how do I make sure that my cup is full, that I even got some on my saucer. We good, here, and I can pour, and I can share, and I can really show up as my best self. That's something that's really, really important.
Courtney Gray:
Yeah, you can. You're not going to make good work if you're not in a good space. I feel like that's so big. Try to approach that at the bench when I'm going in for a custom job or want to be in a good head space. I want to have a really good intention when I sit down. It feeds into the work, it just does.
Karissma Yve:
It does, it does. Jewelry is such an intimate thing. We have been adoring ourselves since the beginning of time. Jewelry is as old as we are as humans. We've literally been adoring ourselves for a very long time, forever. When you think about that, it's like, I need to show up. I need to show up and appreciate and recognize the craft. But also, I need to show up and recognize myself because we are in the business of adorning, of expressing and all of that. And so how can you properly show up through self-expression without beginning with self?
Courtney Gray:
Very good point. It's in the words.
Karissma Yve:
Right. Self-expression.
Courtney Gray:
Self-expression.
Courtney Gray:
Oh man, I could talk to you all day, and I really, really enjoyed this so much. Thank you so much, Karissma.
Karissma Yve:
Thank you for having me.
Courtney Gray:
We'll just have to do a part five, six, seven, eight. We could talk about this all day, I love it. Happy to have you. And tell us how we join the creator's workshop that you mentioned.
Karissma Yve:
So, you would just go to gildform.com, and we have links for registering for the Zoom webinar. You can also create an account on Gildform by just clicking sign up and starting the signup process there, and getting in touch with the team, if you have any questions about the process or anything, you want to know more about the creator workshop, and just reaching out at hello@gildform.com or just going to gildform.com.
Courtney Gray:
Okay, cool. Any Instagram or Facebook mentions there?
Karissma Yve:
Yeah. So, you can find us at _Gildform, that's G-I-L-D-F-O-R-M. And then you can find me, my personal Instagram @Karissmayve, so that's K-A-R-I-S-S-M-A Y-V-E
Courtney Gray:
Yve, right. Yve. I got to get that one down. Not I-E-V-E. What is the background of that name actually? I haven't heard that last name before.
Karissma Yve:
Yeah, so it actually comes from my middle name.
Courtney Gray:
Oh, okay. All right, well, Karissma, amazing, amazing. I'm so impressed with what you're doing. I'm so excited to participate. And I'm going to be on the website signing up for your creator's workshop because this is important work that you're doing.
Karissma Yve:
Yeah, we definitely have to have you as a guest expert come in and chat. We can come in and chat with our creators and give them your expertise. Definitely. That would be incredible.
Courtney Gray:
I love that. We always know more than we think we do, especially when you've done something for 20 years or a couple decades, you're like, oh, I've got all this in my brain.
Karissma Yve:
Absolutely. Absolutely.
Courtney Gray:
It's time to share it. That'd be an honor. Thank you so much. And you guys check out Gildform. We'll see you on the next episode. And Karissma, all the best to you and the team at Gildform there, you're doing really creative, amazing work, and I wish you all the best.
Karissma Yve:
Thank you. Thank you so much.
Courtney Gray:
Thanks for tuning in you guys. I hope you have enjoyed this episode of For the Love of Jewelers. Stay tuned for the next episode by subscribing through Spotify, iTunes or by searching podcast or riogrande.com. I encourage you to rate us, write a review, and share with friends and colleagues. I hope you're all finding ways to stay inspired. I'm your host, Courtney Gray. Until we get to connect again, onward and upward.