When Silk and Steel founder Sarah Cotterall wanted to make a business, she took matters into her own hands. Growing up in London, Cotterall knew she wanted to own and operate a brand within the fashion industry. She had a passion for beautiful and timeless jewellery pieces, heightened through her years living in Paris in her early 20s.
“I was lucky to be surrounded by an abundance of culture, art and fashion,” expressed Cotterall. “I would spend weekends scouring the city and flea markets for chains, beads, collectable vintage jewellery and clothes that I could rework.”
After gaining a degree in international marketing, she worked for various IT companies and advertising agencies until she eventually met her Kiwi husband and moved to New Zealand to settle down. Despite pursuing a different career, Cotterall maintained her dream of owning a high-end jewellery business.
“After a trip back to see my family in Italy, I was so inspired to create beautiful, luxurious couture jewellery for the New Zealand market.”
Cotterall identified a gap in New Zealand’s jewellery market, giving her the courage to start Silk & Steel 12 years ago. Though she is not a trained jeweller, Cotterall identified one of her biggest strengths as being a hardworking woman who has developed her creative skills.
Starting a business can be intimidating, but Cotterall firmly believes anything is possible.
“If you feel a burning passion and desire to create your own business and succeed- you will succeed,” said Cotterall. “If you love what you do, hard work will never feel like work.”
Silk & Steel started with a mere one hundred dollars, with Cotterall investing every cent back into the growth of her business. Her background in marketing helped her build a strong brand identity and navigate the online world.
Cotterall names her biggest inspiration as Vivienne Westwood and how she pioneered the fashion industry and conventional fashion trends throughout the 80s and 90s. Silk & Steel has a powerful in-person presence, with her jewellery being stocked in 70 stores across New Zealand and Australia.
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