Meet Trailblazer Kassandra Xavier Tripp

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kassandra Xavier Tripp.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Kassandra. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My interest in creating things started at an early age. When I was a little girl, I used to love dressing up my dolls. I was always asking my mom to buy doll outfits for me. Unfortunately, for us, growing up in Brazil in the 1980s, that became very expensive very quickly. So, my mom encouraged me to make my own doll outfits. And, that really is the beginning of my creations.

As I grew older, my interests evolved from dolls to accessory design. I took inspirations from every corner of my closet, reimagining jeans, handbags, and belts, taking them apart, and putting them back together to my own specifications. This practice of repurposing accessories became an obsession. One day, I remember coming downstairs to find my mother tearing apart the house looking for a tablecloth. I did not have the heart to tell her that I turned the table cloth into a skirt that was now hanging in my closet!

In the early 2000s, I moved to the United States. And, by that time, my creations, or recreations, comprised much of my wardrobe. I never really considered making pieces for others. My focus was always on creating pieces for my own enjoyment. While bartending in Boston, I started wearing necklaces that I was created to work, and I started getting compliments about them on a regular basis. One of my co-workers picked up on this and asked me if I ever thought about selling my pieces, suggesting that I open an Etsy shop. So, I did that, and to my amazement, people started buying my pieces. From there, I started canvasing at open markets and events.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
For me, getting started is the hardest part because everything is new. I had to learn what goes into making a collection for the very first time. I had to learn how to register for and exhibit at markets and promote my brand. I am still learning more and more every day, but what I have found is that once you go through an exercise once, the rest is just a variation on a theme.

Working with my hands and designing accessories to enhance fashion is part of who I am – It is a labor of love. And, it is something that I would continue to do even if there was no money in it for me. Working on product lines is part of my daily routine – And, it’s meditative. As a businesswoman, of course, I am concerned with sales and what items are more popular than other items, but this is not part of the design process. I always keep the design process pure.

I share this because, as I progress along my own design journey, I, increasingly, come across younger designers who are remarkably talented, but they suffer from a sort of a design paralysis. That is, they do not see the product lines they are working on through, or they do not even get started altogether. And, the common thread for a lot of these young people that I notice is fear, fear of failure or of social criticism. My advice is to anyone struggling is to start small but be consistent. Keep following your dreams. And, remember that over time we become what we repeatedly do, which is why the consistency is so important.

We’d love to hear more about Kassandra Xavier Designs.
My work is a wide selection of colorful and rustic accessories all handmade for elegant, eclectic, and spirited women. Some of my designs are made with beads that are either handpicked from Brazil or handcrafted by me. I also like to use recycled materials such as wood, metal, and leather.

I specialize in fashion accessories for women such as bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and handbags. I recreate trends that already exist with my own twist.

I think it is wonderful that more people everywhere are beginning to embrace things that are made by hand In small quantities. I take tremendous pride in completing each piece that I create, partly because I see myself in them. And, it is even more gratifying to know that aspects of my work resonate with the customers who buy from me, whether is the texture, shape, or color of each piece.

Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
Most of my inspirations come from going into places such as craft, hardware, and fabric stores. Half of the time, I don’t know what I’m making until I see a material or something that speaks to me. I also love the following designers of handmade goods like me on Pinterest and Instagram, whose designs inspire me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kassandraxavier.com
• Email: kassandra_xavier@yahoo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassandraxavier/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kassandraxavierdesigns/

Image Credit:
Tayla Simone

Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.