Double K Vintage

Orange is the New Black

By Naomi Ratner

They’ve popped up all over campus – chic baubles adorning the ears and hands of Syracuse University fashionistas. But these Double K Vintage accessories didn’t leap off the catwalks of New York City, they were made by fellow SU students Kaitlyn Carpenter and Kristin Lubsen.

What began last fall as a jewelry-making hobby shared by two friends turned into a serious business. Carpenter and Lubsen originally just sought to spend more time together amidst their hectic school lives, but out of their creative roots and spirit for entrepreneurship emerged a line of affordable, one-of-a-kind jewelry.

The girls use vintage buttons from local thrift stores to create rings, earrings and brooches. Although Double K accessories sell for less than $20, they look anything but cheap.

“It’s easy for us to do and its fun,” said Carpenter, a senior fashion design major. “We both know that we don’t like to spend a lot of money on fashion jewelry, which is why we wanted to create the company. Everything is fashionable but inexpensive at the same time, which is perfect for today’s college girls.”

Carpenter describes Double K Vintage as a mix of 80’s Beverly Hills glam (think shoulder pads and of course, the big gold buttons) and modern style. Using lessons from their shared minor in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises, the duo turned Double K Vintage into a successful business, with sales exceeding $1000 at last year’s Schine Student Center sale.

“The collection was something we did for ourselves using our own talent and creativity,” said Lubsen, a senior painting major. “We just took the next step and used our ambition to actually turn it into something that people could enjoy.”

The creative duo plans to hold a sale this fall, and it’s evident that they have already started creating new pieces — vintage buttons have taken over their bedrooms.

When asked if they had any advice for students looking to get crafty, Lubsen stressed the importance of enjoying your work, “Whatever you do, just have fun with it!”

For more information on the designs, contact doublekvintage@gmail.com.

image from Double K Vintage on Facebook, licensed under Creative Commons