When Katka's beloved dog Nelinka died, she felt only silence and emptiness. But that's when the first piece of fur jewelry was created, which became a bridge between pain and love. Today, the MEMIA brand helps people preserve memories of their animal friends and cope with their grief.
“Love doesn’t die, it just changes,” says Katy, founder of the MEMIA brand. When she said goodbye to her dog Nelinka in October 2023, she had no idea that the small strand of fur she had intuitively hidden would trigger a wave of tenderness, reconciliation, and a new direction in life. It was from this that the first commemorative piece of jewelry was created. “It was a miracle. Suddenly I felt that she wasn’t gone, that she was with me. And not just in my memories.”
From the need to cope with the pain, something deeper was gradually born. “From that moment on, I knew that jewelry can be more than just an ornament. It can be an anchor, a caress, and a silent conversation with someone who is no longer with us, but is still with us.” Today, MEMIA offers people who have lost their pets the opportunity to capture their presence in a small piece of fur jewelry. Each piece is created by hand and with respect. “It’s not just production. It’s a gentle, inner ritual. I hold in my hand a memory that is extremely precious to someone,” says Katka.
Read what Katy herself says about her journey.
Katy, when did you realize that this wasn't just personal therapy, but something that could help others as well?
This realization came very naturally when I started sharing my story. People reacted to it with deep understanding and some wrote to me saying they would like something similar. The first time I created a memorial piece of jewelry for Miss Šárka, I still remember her to this day. She lost her beloved dog Eliška. When she then wrote to me how happy she was to have her with her and I realized that my Nelinka is actually a kind of patron saint, that thanks to her I am now helping sad souls, I knew how hugely important and meaningful it was. Not only for them, but also for me. It was as if I was helping to carry a piece of pain, changing it into tenderness and giving it new meaning.
What does the process of creating jewelry from pet fur look like?
It is a fragile and very intimate ritual. First, the fur arrives in an envelope, often with a letter or a photo. I always accept it with great respect, in silence, knowing that I am holding a memory in my hands that is extremely precious to someone. Then I carefully prepare and shape the fur. Each piece of jewelry is original. It is created slowly, gently. I work only with my hands, in silence, without rushing. The shape, composition, setting... I adjust everything so that the result looks harmonious, tender and true. Every fur is different, which is why this custom production is individual. I try to communicate sensitively with clients and together we adjust every detail. Before sending the finished jewelry, I always send a photo for approval.
What stories do people most often tell you when they send you their pet's fur?
They often write to me about unconditional love. About how their pet has been with them through difficult times, during illness, breakups, losses. How it has made them laugh when they couldn't laugh anymore. How it has taught them to be here and now. Sometimes the messages are short and to the point, sometimes very comprehensive. And sometimes they are just three sentences and I feel immense love from them. And every time I think to myself how incredibly healing and beautiful the relationship between a person and an animal can be.
Is there a specific customer story that you will never forget?
There were many, but one remains with me as a tender caress. A lady wrote to me who felt empty and lost after the death of her cat. She was her companion until her old age, they spent every day together at home in peace and joy. The lady lived alone, her husband had died, and the cat was the only thing she had left. It was her only joy and meaning in life. When she took the jewelry away, she hugged me. And with tears in her eyes, she whispered to me: “Now I am not alone anymore.” And that is the moment when you know that what you are doing has meaning.
MEMIA is not your first brand – what is the difference between MEMIA jewelry and the ones you created before?
The previous brand Tvořikvítko was such a playful seed and a search for who I really am and what I want to convey to the world. It was full of joy, lightness and the desire to create from the beauty that surrounded me. Gradually, however, my path matured and from one brand two grew, each with its own soul.
Flos was born as a continuation of the flower story. It was jewelry made of real flowers captured in resin, like memories in time. And gradually it expanded into the field of clothing, where I used the ancient technique of cyanotype to create unique prints of flowers on blue-toned clothing. I upcycled older pieces of clothing, breathing new life into them, and through sunlight and flowers, I print stories of nature directly into the fabric.
MEMIA on the contrary, it was born from a deep need and from pain that turned into tenderness. It is dedicated to commemorative jewelry made from the fur of pets who have passed away but remained loved. MEMIA is quiet, calm and grounded. It is about emotions, about memories, about bonds that cannot be erased. Each piece of jewelry is a personal story, a talisman that connects the visible world with what remains hidden.
Today I know that MEMIA is a path that requires my whole heart and attention. I let the pain fade away with love so that MEMIA can grow and fully fulfill its mission — to be
support, comfort and light in times of loss.
How did you choose the brand name and what does it symbolize for you?
The name MEMIA came to me basically overnight. I was looking for a name that would carry memory, gentleness and eternity. One that would not be just a word, but a sacred space for a love that did not disappear, only transformed. MEMIA is a compound of the words memory (memory) and mia (mine, beloved). In my inner world it means: “My memory. My beloved.” It is a name that embraces. One that whispers – you are not alone. What you love stays with you. It symbolizes a love that will not pass, a bond that death will not break, and a tenderness that has imprinted itself in fur, paws, and presence.
Why did you apply to the Craft Accelerator?
I was brought to the Craft Accelerator by a desire to understand myself not only as a creator, but also as an entrepreneur. I knew that my work had power, but I didn't know how to clearly name it, grasp it, and lead it forward. I felt that I needed support, a safe space where I could grow, find direction, and become more firmly rooted.
I came into the program with one brand under which I hid everything – floral jewelry, commemorative jewelry made from pet fur, and sometimes various other ideas that came to me along the way. There was playfulness, joy, but also confusion. Everything was a bit “in a pile” and I felt that I needed to find a clearer direction. One of the big challenges for me was pricing. For a long time, I felt that “people can’t afford this” and so I often undervalued my jewelry. The craft accelerator helped me realize that when I create my work with love, care, and deep attention, it has its own value. And that it’s okay to stand behind it.
The program also made me understand that there's no need to keep everything together, that I can leave the individual directions of my work separate. That each of my brands can have its own breath, tone, and rhythm. And I can be freer in that.
What has participation in the accelerator brought you so far - personally and professionally?
At first, chaos and the desire to change everything right now! 😀 But above all, it brought me inner security. I started to believe more in what I create, and especially in myself. I received feedback that strengthened me, but also pushed me. And what is perhaps most valuable, I felt a great relief that I was not alone in this. I was surrounded by people who create from the heart, and suddenly a space opened up for sharing, inspiration, and mutual support.
Professionally, the accelerator helped me find a clearer language for what I do. I clarified the difference between the MEMIA and Flóve brands, set up processes, and gained the courage to approach larger companies for cooperation. And they responded, with respect and interest, which made me very happy.
Was there a moment or piece of advice in the program that really opened your eyes?
Yes, it was one sentence from lecturer Jakub Tomoszek. When I asked him about the original name of his brand Tvořikvítko, he honestly replied: “I imagine a little girl with pigtails, who makes flowers in her living room.” And at that moment it hit me. Yes, in my heart I am still the girl with the flowers, but if I want my brand to seem credible, mature and have the strength to grow, I have to dress it in a different coat. And so MEMIA and Flová were born – two brands, each with its own spirit, but both faithful to love, nature and memories.
Memories have their value and MEMIA gives them shape.
Katy's story is one of gentleness, courage, and the ability to transform grief into loving remembrance. Her jewelry is not just a decoration, but a way to feel close again. It helps people understand that loss does not have to be the end. That love endures, even if it changes form.
Thanks to the Craft Accelerator, she gained not only entrepreneurial skills, but also peace, support, and most importantly, confidence – in what she does and in herself.
💛 You can find more about the project at memia.cz a Craft accelerator
📸Instagram: @memia.cz
About the acceleration program
Craft accelerator is our support program for all those who have decided to turn their passion into a meaningful journey. For creators and artisans who want to grow, advance their business, or just start one.
Over the course of several months, participants will immerse themselves in the world of business, marketing, finance, and law. They will receive workshops, one-on-one consultations, and mentoring to help them avoid dead ends and learn from the experiences of those who have already walked a similar path.
The program also includes practical topics such as pricing or presentation skills, but most importantly - a safe and motivating environment where self-confidence, new collaborations and friendships are born.
The entire program is also thanks to the generous support of city of Ostrava free for all participants.
