A statement piece of jewelry can elevate any outfit, whether for special occasions or everyday wear. Recently, our generation has been obsessed with charms. They're fun, youthful, vibrant, and allow for self-expression and personalization.
The Sage Vintage, founded by Kate Sullivan, offers vintage-inspired charm necklaces and bold earrings that have captured the attention of style icons like Gigi Hadid and SZA. Known for their customizable designs, each piece tells a unique story. In this interview, Sullivan shares the inspiration behind her brand and how she creates timeless accessories with a personal touch.
What specific moment or experience sparked your passion for vintage jewelry and inspired you to start The Sage Vintage?
The Sage Vintage actually started as a vintage clothing shop, which I managed out of my bedroom. Sometime during COVID, I started tinkering with vintage jewelry, and our assemblage-style charm necklaces really took off. I’ve always loved jewelry (thank you, Mom and Grandma) and always loved stones, rocks, and one-of-a-kind vintage finds (thank you, Dad). Although I jokingly like to say I have no idea how this became my path, when I look back at my childhood, what my hobbies were, and how I was raised, it makes more than enough sense.
How do you approach the design process when combining vintage elements with original pieces? Do you follow a specific method or process?
Honestly, no process at all. I usually sit down, listen to a podcast, put some materials in front of me, and get to work. If I feel like I haven’t been using many beads lately, I pull some strands out and some charms that I think might match. It’s a blessing and a curse to never know what your next creation will be, but it’s how I’ve always operated!
What challenges do you face in sourcing vintage charms and beads, and how do you ensure their authenticity and quality?
I work with multiple vintage/deadstock jewelry suppliers who have been in business for generations and sell charms, pendants, and other findings wholesale. A lot of them receive stock from jewelry suppliers that have liquidated. I’ve built a relationship with many of them and they usually can give backstory to anything I ask about, which is absurd considering the tens of thousands of SKUs they possess. A lot of vintage findings that I get from these suppliers are in their original packaging, which usually states where they were made, what they’re made of, and sometimes can date them.
Vintage jewelry often promotes sustainability. How does The Sage Vintage incorporate sustainable practices in its production and sourcing?
I think the act of using deadstock materials that would otherwise be sitting in a warehouse for 40 (more) years itself is sustainable. We try to use all vintage, but sometimes we run out of a charm or only have a brass version, so we either will send said brass charms off to be plated or, as a last resort, we will manufacture something similar. It’s all about trying your best, and I don’t think any business that has the hope of a long life can be sustained solely by vintage pieces.
How do you navigate trends in the jewelry industry while maintaining the timelessness of The Sage Jewelry?
I try to not follow trends, but really just encourage individuality instead. We try to keep our items small-batch and not overproduce because we don’t want to water ourselves or our designs down. Although charm jewelry has become incredibly popular in the past year, I have a feeling that the art of customization and the special feeling of having your own one-of-a-kind piece won’t fade away anytime soon.
Are there particular cultures or periods that influence your designs? If so, how do they shape your creative choices?
Not really. I kind of use what I have and make it into a mix of vintage and modern. The materials I use can be either 70 years old or newly manufactured, but I’ve never seen our designs as limited to any time period.
How has your design aesthetic evolved since you first started The Sage Vintage, and where do you see it heading in the future?
I think my aesthetic has become more refined, although still very eccentric. I definitely was grappling towards the beginning of my jewelry journey with finding a signature “look,” but because of the nature of my sourcing, I realized I just have to use what I can find at the moment and make it work. Sometimes a huge pile of Cloisonné chain will fall into my lap, and others I’ll come into contact with thousands of Mother of Pearl cameos that I just can’t pass up (yes these both happened). It’s not like I can go back later and have the manufacturer make more; once deadstock is gone it’s gone.
Do you think jewelry has an emotional significance that goes beyond aesthetics? How do you see this reflected in your pieces?
Like I talked about earlier, I love any pieces of jewelry/apparel/etc. that have a custom or personalization aspect. It can make an otherwise meaningless article into a memory you’ll hold onto forever. I get messages all the time that people have chosen a certain charm to represent a lost loved one, a special moment, or a favorite place.
Can you share a favorite story behind a particular charm or bead that has been incorporated into your designs?
Maybe not a specific charm, but more a ritual when making them. TSV was named after my dog, Sage. We don’t really advertise this – mostly because it wouldn’t mean much to anyone but myself – but on the back of every charm we manufacture is an imprint of her and my second dog, Ripley. She’s the reason I started this company and they are both my best friends, so it makes me feel like everyone who receives a charm with their outline on the back of it shares a little of that love too.
What's your vision for The Sage Vintage in the next five years? Are there any new projects or collections you're particularly excited about?
I’m incredibly excited to share that we’re going back to our “roots” as a company and will be dipping our toes into apparel again. While I won’t be reselling vintage + OOAK pieces, I still aim to create quality, lasting, and of course slow-made pieces. We’re aiming to release a couple of staple pieces this winter, and even more by spring.
What advice would you give to someone looking to start their own jewelry brand, especially in the vintage space?
Find your own style, and have fun! I don’t think I’ve ever seen as much blatant copying in any sector but fashion. Jewelry is especially easy to replicate if you have access to an overseas manufacturer, which myself and many other small jewelry business owners have been victims of. Although it’s a business at the end of the day, having a job in the vintage space is so personally rewarding. The friendships, connections, and experiences I otherwise wouldn’t have had are irreplaceable.
Check out The Sage Vintage and shop their collection here.
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