We had the good fortune of connecting with Ime deCaussin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ime, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting my business Created By Koko was serendipitous. One day I was scrolling on Pinterest and stumbled upon a photo of polymer clay earrings. I was instantly intrigued and continued learning about polymer clay by reading books and watching tutorials. Rather than keeping all the earrings I created for myself I decided to start selling them. I have always loved wearing earrings and using my hands to create art. In June 2020, I combined these two things to start my business selling wearable art. I enjoy my full-time career working in higher education, but I missed having an artistic outlet. The thought process behind starting my business was to spend more time using my imagination and creativity. Created By Koko keeps me accountable to creating. It makes me happy sharing my love for earrings and art with people.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Learning how to work with polymer clay was harder than I thought it would be. It takes a lot of patience and practice to learn how to correctly condition the clay to ensure you are creating a high quality product. Initially what kept me busy was understanding how to properly work with polymer clay. Sourcing materials and learning the business aspects of entrepreneurship is what most of my time is currently dedicated to.  It has taught me the importance of dedicating time to learn about things you are personally interested in, devoting time to practice, and remembering to have fun. The earrings are thoughtfully designed and handcrafted to create unique statement earrings. I hope people feel vibrant, classy, and confident when they wear Created By Koko earrings.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Louisville, KY has fantastic outdoor spaces. I would take them to the walking bridge at the Waterfront Park then we would head to the NuLu Neighborhood for restaurants, art galleries, and shops. Galaxie and Guacamole are fun spots to visit in the area. Cultured is great for sitting outside on their patio and catching up with friends over charcuterie. Give me a margarita on a patio or a rooftop and I am a happy woman (I think this would make my visiting friend happy too). NuLu Marketplace also has several options which makes it easy to find something that everyone will enjoy. We would also check out a museum. A few of my favorites are the Speed Art Museum, Roots 101 African American Museum, and 21C. To finish out the visit, we would drive a little outside of Louisville to visit Yew Dell Botanical Gardens to wander through their gardens, do a hiking trail, and have a picnic before going to 3rd Turn Oldham Gardens.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband, family, friends, and the Louisville community. My parents, siblings, husband, and in-laws were supportive from the moment I told them I wanted to start a business. Their support and confidence in my ability to succeed was helpful especially during the first few challenging months of starting a business alongside my full-time job and being a doctoral student. Family and friends were the first people to purchase earrings and cheer me on. I am also thankful for the Louisville community. I have had the opportunity to be a vendor at local markets and sell my earrings at Revelry Boutique + Gallery.

Website: www.createdbykoko.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/created_by_koko/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ime-okpokho-decaussin-med-ches-82a08125/

Image Credits
One photo provided by Revelry Boutique + Gallery Two photos provided by Love The Renauds Wedding Photography & Videography

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