HALII Magazine: March Business Feature
Katrina Tomas"JEWELRY IS A FORM OF STORYTELLING"
In the world of timeless elegance and exquisite craftsmanship, Katrina stands out as a curator of stories told through sparkling gems and vintage treasures. As the founder of TRÈS, a carefully curated vintage jewelry business, she has created a space where each piece is more than just an accessory-it's a piece of history. With an eye for rare and distinctive finds, TRÈS has become a sanctuary for jewelry lovers seeking something unique and meaningful. Through her passion and dedication, Katrina has turned a love for vintage into a thriving business that celebrates the beauty of the past while making it relevant to today's fashion-forward generation.
Katrina grew up as one of three sisters and who shared a love for shiny things and says she was lucky to have a mother with great style. With her education in Multidisciplinary Design at NSCAD, this gave her a background in product design. Thus, began the creation of 'TRÈS'.
It started as a way to re-home a large amount of clothing in her and her sisters' closets. They knew they had a great collection of pieces and wanted to share them with others.
"We had way too much clothing and knew something had to be done about it," said Katrina.
Eventually, the business shifted to focus on vintage jewelry and accessories. Katrina says she began to source pieces from "anywhere and everywhere", whether that's during her travels to Montreal or Malta, or even close to home - from her mother's jewelry box. But don't worry, it's always her mother's idea.
Sometimes there's things from her personal collection that she hasn't seen in years, and wants to be able to give them to someone who would appreciate it more." Katrina loves her job. She wears a lot of hats, acting as marketing, accounting, AND design for TRES. Many of these things she didn't know how to do before starting the business, but learned along the way. Though, she does say she wishes she paid more attention when they taught her how to make spreadsheets in school. Starting any business comes with its challenges, but the most rewarding part is getting to connect people to pieces they end up loving, she says.
"At a recent market, I met a mother and daughters who had matching heart pendants, but each one was slightly different to reflect their personal styles. The mom lost hers and had been looking for one to replace it, but I happened to have a heart pendant that she loved. Things like that are what feel super rewarding."
Each piece of vintage jewelry has history, and story behind where and who it came from. It can be passed on from generations, travelling through many homes and living in many jewelry boxes. They can even be telling of the history and events that took place during the time it was made. She uses an example from her collection - a gold koala pendant with a small opal resting in the centre of its belly. Given that koala's are found in Australia and opals are known for their beauty there, this pendant most likely travelled over 17,000 kilometres to get here.
"A simple piece of jewelry is small and ornate, but it can hold so much information. I think that's what makes vintage jewelry important and valuable to people."
That's why Katrina continues to educate herself and her customers on the beauty of buying vintage. She uses diamond and metal testers to learn the value of the pieces she collects, using special tools to perfectly polish each one. Her business advice? Find your niche and set yourself apart.
"There's so many talented and established jewelry vendors in Halifax alone, but you have to use the tools and knowledge that you have to stand out. I try to be well rounded, knowing everything about the jewelry I'm selling but also being able to share this with customers. You have to be able to market yourself well."
Interview by HALII Magazine