Quarantine Spotlight: Modern Myth Jewelry

Hello all you beautiful babes, how many days have we been in quarantine now?? We’ve lost count. We hope that you are having as much fun as we are with this Quarantine Series. We love supporting local and small. This series is everything to us. With all the social distancing going on we have had so much fun just talking to people! 

We are so excited for our next Quarantine Spotlight, we would like to introduce you to Alexis of Modern Myth Jewelry. We can’t help ourselves but feature all the fun jewelry makers in the city. Modern Myth is like none other, their style is very boho meets 70’s country meets glam rock...that is definitely a mouthful, but simply, she puts together beautiful pieces that are meant to stand out. Keep reading to learn more about Alexis, and her business that started in the science classroom.

Tell us about yourself: 

“My name is Alexis Kolapanas (rhymes with Pocahontas) and I’m 23 years old! I was born and raised in Memphis, TN and then spent most of my teenage years living in Santa Rosa beach, Florida.

I decided to give Nashville a try, I really didn’t think I’d like living here for long, but it’s been two years now and I absolutely love it! It’s the perfect amount of city!

In my free time I love watching films and writing screenplays. I actually had plans to go to art and film school, but turned down scholarships to pursue a career in jewelry instead.

I also spend a lot of my time painting, making jewelry, planning photoshoots with friends, and going out with friends! You usually can find me going to any concert that I can and hanging out at Bartaco.” 

Tell us about your business: 

“Modern Myth Jewelry started as a science project during my senior year of high school. I was in a science class that heavily focused on art, and how all art has science involved.

We had an assignment to make a themed jewelry collection using things from nature. My family is Greek so I did a collection based on mythology. Inspired by sirens, fairies, and goddesses, I primarily worked with crystals, hemp, stone beads, and metal bullet casings for my jewelry line.

We were only supposed to make about 3-4 pieces, but I got carried away and made 15 pieces. I had friends and teachers from school buying my jewelry before the project was even turned in! People began telling me to do something with it, beyond the project!”

“I officially went to business in 2014 and we haven't stopped since! The jewelry is all handmade or assembled by my sister and I. We source our materials from all over the world and use everything from freshwater pearls, shipwreck pottery, seaglass, beads, currency, crystals, stones, found objects, shells, repurposed vintage jewelry, bullet casings, and antler points….just to name a few!

Growing up I've always been drawn to eccentric 60s and 70s fashion, despite people considering it to be "out there" or "gaudy." I love getting to wear unique pieces of items that most people wouldn't have in their own closet or might even be afraid to wear.

We want to make sure we offered a variety of styles and price ranges, something for everybody! We want every being under the sun to feel beautiful and confident in our jewelry. I have expanded into painting & making resin artwork.”

What are your hopes in the future for your craft? 

“My envision for the future of my business would be to open up a storefront! I would love to have a space that is a mix of jewelry, artwork, and clothing that I have created.

I frequently get asked to hold classes so it would be great to have a creative space to be able to teach people what I know.

In 2020 I aim to launch a clothing line, called "Stone Cold Fox Apparel". Having a clothing line is something I have always dreamed. It will be a curated collection of one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, repurposed pieces, and high quality clothing designed by me and inspired by the things I love.”

   

How has this quarantine season affected your craft? 

“I’ve been more creative, as I have so much more time on my hands! I’ve been creating many pieces, and coming up with a lot of new ideas.

Financially, it has taken a huge toll on my business and income, as it’s where I earn most of my living. I made the jump in October to become 100% self-employed and rely on my jewelry business. It was going great until the COVID-19 started to become more of a concern. I had to shut down my pop up tent that is set up at 12th South Taproom & Grill every weekend."

What have you been doing to keep yourself busy during this quarantine season? 

"Personally, I’ve been starting to cook a lot more. I’ve been trying out a lot of Greek food dishes. I’ve been doing a lot of movie and tv binge watching, mainly independent and foreign films. My friends and I set up FaceTime “dates” a few times a week to catch up with one another...we always joke about how Broadway is going to be the first place we hit up once quarantine is over! 

I also joined TikTok...something I never thought I’d ever do. I feel old being on there, but I’ve actually been having a lot of fun on it. I’ve mostly been posting content related to my business and I’ve surprisingly have gotten amazing support and found customers through the platform!”

How can we support you? 

“Some great ways to help support us is sharing us on your social media (Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Etsy) with your friends and family. A simple follow really means a lot.

Purchasing from our shop is a big help as well and we’ve been offering some great discounts these past couple of months! Right now we’re doing 25% off our website with the code FLASH.”

Alexis you are so cool. We have loved getting to know you and learning more about your history, goals, and inspirations. We hope that you continue to create, and expand your collections as we anxiously await your clothing line. Being a full-time creator is such a boss move, and we can’t wait to watch you continue to grow even bigger!

Nic already has a pair of the top selling holographic “YEE HAW” earrings. If you know anything about us, you know that we love a pair of statement earrings. Jewelry is such a fun way to express yourself, and Modern Myth Jewelry lets us do just that! Make sure to check out Alexis’ social media pages, and take advantage of her FLASH sale. Wait and see what we’ll do next!