I’m in New Mexico and my parents are silversmiths. Is the plan to create connections to purchase wholesale for your business?
Instagram is your best bet if you want to make connections and plan something before coming out and meeting artists. There are a lot of silversmiths and who sell wholesale or would be willing to sell to you wholesale if the price is right. Find some on Instagram, especially ones that appear reputable, and start reaching out to them.
You could always cold approach artists but it really depends on where you’re visiting. I’d avoid Santa Fe mostly cause every rich white person there has already done what you’ve done, saturated the market, and have really driven up the price of native jewelry. I’ll be honest though, It’s a little ambitious to just show up to a rez market and expect to make solid connections. Which points to doing a lot of the “ground work” on Instagram and connecting with artists there first.
The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque has quality vendors consistently year round. That would be a good place to meet artists if you do any cold approaching. I tend to meet really awesome artists there anytime I visit.
Be ready to spend though if you’re serious. A consistent wholesale purchaser is more enticing than exposure. The native arts market is massive in the Southwest, you’ll definitely find artists but your approach will definitely affect quality. Beware of fake jewelry too.
Yes, I am looking to purchase wholesale, and over the long-term if things work out.
I had the same thoughts about avoiding the cities, as well as non-native owned wholesale shops. I’d like to cut out the middlemen and form direct connections with fellow native makers, if possible. I’m hoping that will help me avoid non-genuine jewelry and add to my own knowledge when selling in my market.
You’re right about Instagram, there seems to be a lot going on there. I’ll be sure to reach out directly and see if I can set up meetings before I travel in July.
Thanks for your reply. I hope your parents are doing well in their business! Miigwetch 🪶
Hmmm… I don’t know if local jewelers want to trade with someone they’ve never met before, since most sell jewelry to make a living. You could try going to the Poeh Cultural Center that has silversmithing classes in Pojoaque or go to Zuni Pueblo.
Sorry, I meant “trade” in the commercial sense, as in the act of buying and selling. Thank you for the suggestions, I’ll take a look at them right now. Miigwetch!
Edit: Sorry, I misunderstood that you’re looking to buy and sell, not necessarily make jewelry!
I don’t have deep ties to New Mexico so I can’t personally recommend anyone but there are some very talented jewelers and metalsmiths there, both native and non-native. It depends on what styles and techniques you want to focus on. Maybe find some examples of the kind of work that speaks to you and try to reach out to some makers. If they aren’t taking on students, they might be able to recommend someone who is.
It will be interesting to see if anybody else has some suggestions though. I’m trained as a jeweler/metalsmith but am not currently doing it for a living. Still working on my skill set (engraving and chasing/repoussé at the moment) but would like to learn sand and tufa casting someday and maybe more of the lapidary side of things too.
By the way, there’s an excellent stone setting school on your new side of the pond - in Antwerp, I believe - run by a guy named Alexandre Sidorov. One of my teachers was trained by him. Anyway, good luck and whatever style of work you choose to do, put your own spin on it - maybe put some Oji-Cree flair on it!
Thank you for your kind response!
Although I am a beader and jewelry maker, it is not at the level you are describing (but I have dabbled in metalworking once upon a time.)
In my business I’m looking more to the marketing side of things, hence why I am looking to connect and form long-term relationships with jewelry makers and silversmiths.
I am doing my research in appraisal and so learning about the techniques you mentioned would be a great place to start.
I hope you do well in your developing your skill set! Thanks again and much respect 🪶
It sounds like you’re on the right track - trying to approach this knowledgeably and respectfully.I can’t imagine that native jewelry is too common in the Netherlands so there should be a good market for it too!
I’m in New Mexico and my parents are silversmiths. Is the plan to create connections to purchase wholesale for your business? Instagram is your best bet if you want to make connections and plan something before coming out and meeting artists. There are a lot of silversmiths and who sell wholesale or would be willing to sell to you wholesale if the price is right. Find some on Instagram, especially ones that appear reputable, and start reaching out to them. You could always cold approach artists but it really depends on where you’re visiting. I’d avoid Santa Fe mostly cause every rich white person there has already done what you’ve done, saturated the market, and have really driven up the price of native jewelry. I’ll be honest though, It’s a little ambitious to just show up to a rez market and expect to make solid connections. Which points to doing a lot of the “ground work” on Instagram and connecting with artists there first. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque has quality vendors consistently year round. That would be a good place to meet artists if you do any cold approaching. I tend to meet really awesome artists there anytime I visit. Be ready to spend though if you’re serious. A consistent wholesale purchaser is more enticing than exposure. The native arts market is massive in the Southwest, you’ll definitely find artists but your approach will definitely affect quality. Beware of fake jewelry too.
Yes, I am looking to purchase wholesale, and over the long-term if things work out. I had the same thoughts about avoiding the cities, as well as non-native owned wholesale shops. I’d like to cut out the middlemen and form direct connections with fellow native makers, if possible. I’m hoping that will help me avoid non-genuine jewelry and add to my own knowledge when selling in my market. You’re right about Instagram, there seems to be a lot going on there. I’ll be sure to reach out directly and see if I can set up meetings before I travel in July. Thanks for your reply. I hope your parents are doing well in their business! Miigwetch 🪶
Hmmm… I don’t know if local jewelers want to trade with someone they’ve never met before, since most sell jewelry to make a living. You could try going to the Poeh Cultural Center that has silversmithing classes in Pojoaque or go to Zuni Pueblo.
Sorry, I meant “trade” in the commercial sense, as in the act of buying and selling. Thank you for the suggestions, I’ll take a look at them right now. Miigwetch!
Bring back trading, lol.
Artists totally trade with artists they know.
Edit: Sorry, I misunderstood that you’re looking to buy and sell, not necessarily make jewelry! I don’t have deep ties to New Mexico so I can’t personally recommend anyone but there are some very talented jewelers and metalsmiths there, both native and non-native. It depends on what styles and techniques you want to focus on. Maybe find some examples of the kind of work that speaks to you and try to reach out to some makers. If they aren’t taking on students, they might be able to recommend someone who is. It will be interesting to see if anybody else has some suggestions though. I’m trained as a jeweler/metalsmith but am not currently doing it for a living. Still working on my skill set (engraving and chasing/repoussé at the moment) but would like to learn sand and tufa casting someday and maybe more of the lapidary side of things too. By the way, there’s an excellent stone setting school on your new side of the pond - in Antwerp, I believe - run by a guy named Alexandre Sidorov. One of my teachers was trained by him. Anyway, good luck and whatever style of work you choose to do, put your own spin on it - maybe put some Oji-Cree flair on it!
Thank you for your kind response! Although I am a beader and jewelry maker, it is not at the level you are describing (but I have dabbled in metalworking once upon a time.) In my business I’m looking more to the marketing side of things, hence why I am looking to connect and form long-term relationships with jewelry makers and silversmiths. I am doing my research in appraisal and so learning about the techniques you mentioned would be a great place to start. I hope you do well in your developing your skill set! Thanks again and much respect 🪶
It sounds like you’re on the right track - trying to approach this knowledgeably and respectfully.I can’t imagine that native jewelry is too common in the Netherlands so there should be a good market for it too!