Anything in your life, is possible.
Xander uses semi-precious stones in his jewellery and home accessories and finishes his pieces with either 925 sterling silver or 14k gold plated components and findings. All the jewellery he produces is also nickel-free. (he is also allergic!)
The brand, after his name, Xander Kostroma®, launched in the Fall of 2018, is now stocked in 550+ independent boutiques worldwide. His collection is also available online from British retailers Freemans.com and NotonTheHighstreet.com.
Xander firmly believes that: Anything in your life, is possible! ...no matter what your background, you just need to focus on what you want, believe you already have it, and you will achieve it.
Sounds interesting?!
Follow his work @XanderKostromaLifestyle on Instagram.
MEET THE CENTRAL TEAM
Lydia
Head of Jewellery Production
Lily
1st Jewellery Production Assistant
Pinna
2nd Jewellery Production Assistant
Gail (she's camera shy!)
Warehouse Picker & Packer
Mohtasim
Digital Marketing Manager
Amy
In-house Model
Ria
Lifestyle Photographer
Luna
Team Mascot
HOW WE OPERATE
Xander is based in Lisbon (Portugal). He works online with Lydia who is based in Handan City (China) along with her 2 assistants Lily and Pinna. The women, led by Lydia’s expertise, hand-make everything for the brand. Once production is finished, the goods are shipped to the warehouse in Swansea (Wales) and it’s from this location that Gail ships all orders. Amy (the face of the brand) shoots from her home and garden in Northamptonshire (England) while Ria photographs the lifestyle images from her studio in Norfolk (England). Finally, Moh, with his assistant Abdul, handles the website SEO. They are based in Sialkot, Pakistan.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Xander was born on the 7th of April 1987 into a single-parent, working-class family in Swansea, Wales. After a strained relationship with his mother, he found himself homeless at age 16. Xander “sofa surfed” for some months before finding a job working nights as a pot washer at a local restaurant. He eventually moved into a small bedsit along the seafront while continuing his studies at secondary school. A year later, aged 17, Xander successfully secured a job working weekends in the coffee shop at M&S which brought some stability into his life. He also moved into his own apartment in the city centre.
Management soon recognised his potential and promoted him to store Visual Merchandiser. It was at M&S, that his interest in jewellery began. Aged 20, Xander left to create his first company selling ex-High Street clothing online which he ran for 2 years.
His interests continued...
Aged 22, Xander decided to return to work in retail. He secured a role as a shop manager for Cancer Research UK in Neath. It was in this position that he gained a deeper understanding of management while overseeing a team of 30+ volunteers from different backgrounds and with various needs.
Xander worked for the charity for almost 2 years until 2010 when he moved to Manchester for a role in buying & merchandising Head Office for JD Sports.
In early 2012, Xander was approached by the recruitment team at VF International, in Switzerland. He accepted the position and emigrated to the Italian-speaking canton "Ticino" to work at the luxury denimwear brand 7 For All Mankind. Xander learnt to speak Italian and spent most of his free time travelling around Northern Italy. Although Xander enjoyed his time at VF, he felt like he could no longer grow, so in late 2013 he handed in his notice to work freelance.
In early 2014, Xander returned to the UK for 3 months to work in a showroom located on Great Portland Street, London. (Ironically, it was for a brand that he used to buy while working in buying & merchandising in Manchester). It was during this time, at the brands' showroom, that he was offered a license to produce jewellery on behalf of their label.
At the end of the 3-month contract, Xander returned to Switzerland and began to put together a range of bohemian-inspired jewellery for the brand.
The collection launched 6 months later and was received well. The range was sold at House of Fraser and ASOS online. It was stocked in almost 50 independent boutiques in the UK and EU as well as further afield at Zoot (Czech Republic), Modcloth (USA) and Zando (South Africa).
In early 2015, Xander founded his company Xander Kostroma Fashion Ltd. He continued to work under license until early 2018 giving his notice to concentrate on his brand, simply called; Xander Kostroma®.
6 months later, Xander launched a small capsule collection of earrings and recruited an international team based between Switzerland, China & the UK. Over the next few years, the collections expanded into necklaces, bracelets, pashminas, and homeware.
During the 2020 global pandemic, Xander left Switzerland for Portugal. After some time exploring the new country, he set up a home in Lisbon where the brand is managed today.
ABOUT THE BRAND LOGO
The Xander Kostroma skull logo is an amalgamation of all the things Xander is inspired by. Xander was fascinated with religion. At a young age, he attended the local Church. When he was 17, he studied Theravada Buddhism and completed an A-Level. Later he turned to Islam before being called to Spirituality which was the path that ultimately led him to work with crystals. For Xander, the skull represents our mortality as Human Beings. Xander believes that we are eternal Souls having a human experience, to which we are given a body for the journey here on Earth. Xander believes that our main purpose in this life is love.
Looking closer, you will spot slight imperfections in the logo. It is this quirkiness within the world that Xander embraces.
Xander decided to include the Hamsa or the Hand of Fatima, as this represents protection when used upwards. It welcomes positivity and abundance into one’s life, which is what he spreads through his brand.
