Sarah Graham’s Background

Sarah Graham is a Fairmined designer who has always been passionate about working with her hands, especially when she’s using metals to make her pieces. Her primary influences are nature and texture, expertly combining the two elements to create pieces that are unique, yet universal in their appeal.

Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in Northern California, and I’ve since lived all up and down the West Coast, as far south as San Diego and as far north as Portland, Oregon. I currently live in San Francisco, and I run my jewelry design and manufacturing business out of my Dogpatch Neighborhood studio.

Why did you become a designer?

The idea of making something with my hands and metal and fire…it’s all so tactile and satisfying! I had a jeweler do a little work for me when I was just out of college, and I couldn’t stop going back even after the project was done. I just wanted to learn more, and I wanted to do it myself!

He ended up hiring me and giving me my first bench lessons. I also love metal. I am fascinated especially by the dichotomy that is gold—how can something so dense and hard feel and look so rich and soft? It makes no sense, but I’m not the only one who would describe it as such.