Logan Ketterling is debuting a jewelry line steeped in history

Urbain is a Minneapolis–based company that creates unique jewelry made of wooden beads. The beads don’t come from just any wood, however; they are created from a 200-year-old cedar log that has been preserved at the bottom of the St. Croix River.

“We’re taking old saw logs from the Marine Mill, the first business in Minnesota, and turning them into jewelry,” says founder Logan Ketterling.

The company is launching with one item, the Marine, a bracelet with wooden beads and a silver clasp. But for Ketterling, this project is just the beginning. In fact, one of the backing rewards includes preorders of the company’s next three products, which Ketterling plans to announce later in the year.

The campaign has already surpassed its campaign goal of $12,500.

Ketterling is especially transparent with where his money is going: $5,000 for materials, $3,150 for labor, and $4,350 for marketing.

Ketterling’s Kickstarter video is beautifully done: He visits the river where the logs have been recovered and talks to man who salvages them. His website also features gorgeous photography. A wooden bracelet is a simple idea, but Ketterling has a knack for branding and story, and I’m interested to see what he does next. 

(Photo courtesy of Urbain)

JCK