Button and Co. has the last four years sewn up!

Button and Co., which creates unique and innovative jewellery collections, celebrates its fourth birthday this month.

The business, which was started by Waterford goldsmith Elaine Sarah Comerford, has had an eventful four years; won many awards, received numerous glowing citations from the craft world and has even been backed by a Dragon.

According to Elaine Sarah the inspiration came from her mum who is an avid sewer.  “When I was little my Mum used to make a lot of our clothes and I was always surrounded by bits of fabric, patterns and button tins.  Many years later during a visit home I noticed the button tin as if for the first time and it evoked really strong childhood memories.  From there, Button and Co. was born.”

Inspired by the memories that related to the button tin Elaine Sarah created a collection of jewellery that would represent people's memories. The memory bracelet was her first creation and since then Elaine Sarah has produced over 20 further collections, including the Signature Collection, Button and Co. Bridal and the C’est Moi Collection.

In 2009, Elaine Sarah was a contestant on RTE’s Dragons’ Den, which gives Irish entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their business ideas to five venture capitalists. Button and Co. was backed by then Dragon, Niall O’ Farrell and Elaine Sarah hasn’t looked back.

“In the past four years I was honoured to be invited onto the panel for the Young Entrepreneur Awards in Kerry, I have addressed Dublin’s Rotary Club as part of their International Women’s Day Celebrations and we have won several industry awards including Best Product and Editor’s Choice at the London International Jewellery Show.”

July is cause for double celebration as Button and Co. recently moved into its new premises, the Kite Design Studio, a collective of creative and innovative craftspeople producing some of Waterford’s finest crafts in the heart of the Viking Triangle.

Ciaran Cullen, Chief Executive, Waterford City Enterprise Board welcomed Button and Co. to the Kite Design Studios.  “We are delighted to have Elaine Sarah working as part of the Kite collective.  The studio houses a host of exciting and novel craftspeople creating a superb range of glass, ceramics and jewellery. 

In the short time that Elaine Sarah has been at Kite, she has proved herself a natural leader and is working well with the other businesses in the studio in building the profile of craft in Waterford.”

To celebrate its 4th Birthday Button and Co. is giving away a beautiful piece of jewellery.  Find out more details of how you could win by checking out www.facebook.com/buttonandco or call Button and Co. on 051 858914.

If you have a start- up idea talk to Waterford City Enterprise Board by calling 051 852883 or go to www.waterfordceb.com.