BABE #317: KYLA NICOLE HARPER - Jewelry Designer & Owner, Tumble
What started as Kyla’s hobby in college and served as a much-needed stress reliever, turned into a full-fledged business owned and operated by the babe herself. Tumble is an Albuquerque, NM-based shop providing organic, earthy and minimal jewelry, wall hangings and various high-quality home goods as a result of co-collaboration with many talented makers. Since opening up shop in 2015, Kyla has been extremely intentional about the branding, operations, philanthropy and overall company culture of her small but mighty biz. She’s genuine in her pursuits, authentic in her partnerships and an advocate for mental health in and outside of the workplace.
The Basics:
Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Current city: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Alma mater: University of New Mexico
Degree: B.A., Public Relations & Marketing
Very first job: Quiznos Sandwich Artist
Hustle: Jewelry Designer & Owner, Tumble
The Interests:
Babe you admire and why?
There are so many amazing local women in my city that makes me so hopeful for the future of our community. Sarah from @neothreadco who cares deeply about sustainability. Beth from @elizabethwellsphoto, who captures our desert landscape in the most incredible way. Katie from @odddaughter has a way of articulating in words, what we feel inside. Krista from @hername_ismud because she has a deep respect for art and creativity and puts it into her work. Laura from @lolajanenaturals who provides incredible natural solutions for our skin.
How do you spend your free time?
New Mexico is gorgeous, so we get outside as often as possible for walks with our golden doodle, Oliver. I love reading books, creating art in other mediums, and hot yoga.
Go-to coffee order and/or adult beverage?
Oat milk latte or iced black tea.
What would you eat for your very last meal?
Scallops and asparagus in a lemon caper sauce.
What’s something you want to learn or master?
I have a deep love for pottery, so I would love to learn how to make pottery on the wheel.
If you could have coffee with anyone in the world, who would it be?
Brené Brown. She is my hero.
What’s something most don’t know about you?
I am actually really sensitive and soft, but I have to feel super safe with someone for me to express that side of myself.
If you could only choose to wear one piece of jewelry, what would it be and why?
Chunky gold hoops. They instantly make me look put together, even when I haven't showered all week!
The Hustle:
Tell us about your hustle.
I am the owner and jewelry designer at Tumble, a small, female owned jewelry business that believes in shopping small, sustainably, and of the highest quality. Our business is in a season where we have a couple employees, but it still requires all of us to wear multiple hats. So, I focus a lot of my energy on the creative design process, social media scheduling, email communication with customers, and (of course) making the jewelry.
What does your typical workday look like?
We actually don’t start working until about 10:30 or 11 a.m., because we are really intentional about having a slow morning where we read, write, take our dog for a walk, make a good breakfast, and plan out the day. This has made me so much more productive, but has been tough to carve out the space and not feel guilty. Once we are at the studio, we have a whiteboard with a section for each person on my team, with a list of what needs to happen each day of the week. We are big batch-working fans, so it’s likely that each person only has one to three tasks for the day. I personally pack all of our orders and write a handwritten note to each customer, which is my favorite thing to do, because I am still so blown away by the people who support us and invest their money into our dream.
Have you always had a passion for art and creating?
I’ve always been creative. I was the kid who bedazzled their backpack in grade school because I didn't like any of the backpacks at the store. With jewelry, there is a special magic of creating something that you wear on your body daily. There is significance in that. It is a reminder of the value and dignity we each possess. I started it as a hobby in college and always made stuff in my down time when I graduated college, but as my jobs got more and more stressful, I would use jewelry making as a stress reliever. I had so much jewelry made, that my roommates made me start an online shop. I finally quit my full-time job in 2015, and we have been going strong ever since. It all started with a desperate need to create. I found that creativity was a therapeutic process for me, and it helped me manage stress and gave me a clear way to express my point of view as a person. We’ve settled into a brand identity and creative style over the years as we better understand ourselves and our creative point of view. In the beginning it was so scattered and didn't have much throughline, whereas now we know who we are as a brand and do not apologize for that. Our brand is done in service to our customers and we desire to build a strong legacy that gives back and loves the community we’re housed in.
How has being a woman affected your professional experience?
The business culture changes when we, as women, do not shy away from starting companies, refuse to back down when challenged, and use our power and influence to be the bosses who pay fairly, who honor feminine culture, and who value the female skill set as equal to any other.
What’s your advice for fellow babes tackling the balance of their career and personal wellness?
I am only able to serve people and show up well in business if I am working from a full, healthy, rested space. I glorified the hustle for so long at the demise of my mental and physical health, and now have to rebuild my entire framework of understanding wellness and balance. I do not recommend getting to that place. There are seasons where the business will require more of you and it will come at the expense of your personal life, but you have to have an established “why” in your business that allows you to measure what is worth the sacrifice and what is not. You’re still a person, apart from your business, and while it is easy to forget, you are better able to work in and on your business when you’re thriving. Make space for your mental and physical health; it’s the best investment you will make for your business.
What does your approach to work-life balance look like?
I am realistic in knowing there is no balance, only choices. In order to say “yes” to something, it means saying “no” to something else. The difficult part is making sure those choices honor your values and convictions. You are only able to do one thing well at a time, so show up fully in that choice. I unplug by spending time with my friends. I read books that have nothing to do with my work. I go to therapy and have a standing weekly get-together with people who matter to me.
Career and/or life advice for other babes?
You don’t get to quit on a bad day.
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