CORNWALL, Ontario – Tarah Zaczyk had a passion for jewellry and design since the age of 16 when she worked as a cleaner at a local jewellry store. Now she has her own boutique, Crush Lane, that specializes in custom goldsmithing using computer generated designs.
ce the age of 16 when she worked as a cleaner at a local jewellry store. Now she has her own boutique, Crush Lane, that specializes in custom goldsmithing using computer generated designs.
“It’s a young, fresh approach to custom design and it’s something I`ve been doing for quite some time now,” said Zaczyk.
Before Crush Lane opened on May 1, Zaczyk showcased her collections at Echo Trends for just under a year. Zaczyk hopes that having her own brick and mortar location will help to build her brand and expand her business.
Zaczyk attended OCAD University for fashion design and marketing, but eventually she found her niche at George Brown College in the goldsmithing program.
“I`ve always been really hands on and (I) have a good appreciation for detail, so it was perfect,” said Zaczyk.
In her final year of college, Zaczyk discovered the name of her company Crush Lane when she misheard her friend talking about Rush Lane, which is also known as Graffiti Alley in Toronto. She created a grafitti-esque collection inspired by this neighbourhood’s aesthetic for a final project.
Now, Zaczyk’s collections are inspired by a variety of things in pop culture.
“I like to think that I’m very tapped into pop culture,” said Zaczyk. “I’m always on social media, like Instagram, I’m always watching interior design shows; you name it. I like going to Montreal and Toronto for inspiration—the bigger urban cities. It’s overwhelming how much inspiration is out there.”
In terms of style price, Zaczyk believes her product fits into a happy medium between inexpensive and high-end jewellery.
“Our product is affordable, and more thought goes into choosing these pieces,” said Zaczyk. “I’m trying to take a stance on this disposable fashion thing. I love costume jewellery, but the manufacturing makes it disposable.”
Recently, Crush Lane created a Home Vibes collection where vintage ashtrays are repurposed as jewellery catch trays. Similarly, Zaczyk has a jewellery collection that she created from repurposed materials.
Apart from her collections, Zaczyk likes to sit down with her clients for a more personalized, custom experiene—especially with bridalwear.
“Crush lane is always developing, and as we grow, our collections will grow too,” Zaczyk.
Crush Lane Boutique is located at 7A First Street East and can be found online at www.crushlane.com.
