To date we have had adults making their way in our features but we are hella excited to introduce you today to Ella and Gracie, the #girlbosses behind CorkSis. Using eco friendly products and upcycling wine corks into jewelry they are 15 years old and have been killin’ it for FOUR years! These girls have got game and we are so thrilled to have them as a part of our YYC Girl gang tribe!
CORKSIS – Ella and Gracie
WHAT DO YOU MAKE/SELL? TELL US ABOUT YO’ SELF.
We make up-cycled jewelry out of wine corks. On our pendants we put flowers, zippers, newspaper from 1912, shells, rocks, and basically anything that we find or can reuse. Both of us are passionate about our earth and renewable fashion. As youth entrepreneurs, we want to help make the design industry more eco- conscious.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR BUSINESS?
CorkSis has been running for four years and has evolved in so many ways.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
We started CorkSis one afternoon as a craft. As 12 year olds at the time, we didn’t expect the growth and achievement that has come our way. Now at 15 years old, our small business has become much more than an afternoon craft.
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOUR WORK?
Most of all, nature. Every detail inspires us. Nature is so intricate and naturally beautiful, which helps us create unique pendants. Music is another motivator and it always inspires us when we work, especially Xavier Rudd.
WHAT DO YOU DREAM FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN THE FUTURE?
We believe that the best thing to do is always take things as they come and see where it will take us. As we are both in High School, managing a business can be tricky, but as long as CorkSis is still enjoyable for us and we are still into it, CorkSis will continue. Passion is key; we never want this small business to be a chore.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM AND WHY?
We love Instagram because it is all about the visuals and we love photography as well.
HOW DO YOU PICK YOURSELF UP WHEN THINGS GO WRONG?
When things are not going as well as we want them to be, typically when we don’t know what to add to the pendant we are working on, then the two of us often switch the pendants that we are working on to see what the other can do. It’s nice to know that we always have each other to lean on.
WHAT’S ONE THING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT YOU? GIVE US AN INTERESTING FACT!
We both play the piano, and love doing duets with each other!
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPER POWER WHAT WOULD IT BE?
It would certainly be the power to make all materials reusable and eco friendly.
WHAT ARE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES? (Please include links)
Instagram: @CorkSis
Blog: corksis.wordpress.com