by Jennifer Velasquez

We are excited to chat with team member Ashley Rabin, founder of Gilded-Mane. Ashley makes bold statement jewelry and accessories from upcycled materials, including reclaimed leather, semi-precious stones, vintage metalwork and zardozi embroidery all set against the backdrop of the beautiful Hudson Valley.

NYHC: What is unique about your work?

Ashley Rabin: I deconstruct materials that are familiar and then repurpose them in unexpected ways. And since most of my jewelry uses leather as a foundation, they are much lighter in weight than they appear.

NYHC: Do you have any favorite pieces?

AR: My favorite style at the moment is my large gilded breastplate. It is a new shape and I've only made three versions of this design so far. They require a larger piece of scrap leather and are more time-consuming but they're dramatic and instantly elevates any wardrobe staple.

NYHC: What is your favorite tool or supply?

AR: My favorite material is the reclaimed leather. The majority of the leather I use are scraps that were sent to me by LLoree Dickens, a Native American moccasin designer. Before I connected with her, my collection was mostly headbands. The deerskin leather is soft but also thick and durable, and I have it in a variety of colors. That was the catalyst that allowed Gilded-Mane to fully manifest.

NYHC: Is there a new piece/change that you're excited about?

AR: I recently updated my website and the new layout does a much better job of showcasing my products while also conveying my story as a sustainable designer. The Pattern By Etsy site was really limited in terms of functionality. While I kept my Etsy shop as is, I switched my domain www.gilded-mane.com over to Shopify. It was a bigger investment up front in terms of time and money, but the layouts are much more interesting and versatile, plus it allowed me to seamlessly integrate a blog. Shopify also has more marketing capabilities and has enabled me to turn my Instagram into a sales channel with shoppable posts.

NYHC: What advice can you share with other makers?

AR: Follow your instincts and don't be afraid to experiment - that's the only way you'll create something new. Customers are conditioned to look for bargains so handmade items have to look and feel special.