From COVID Side Hustle to Celebrity Staple: The Story Behind CocoAteMyShoes
By Lindsey Chenault
When Amanda Tankel founded cocoatemyshoes as a COVID-era side hustle, she had no idea her designs would one day be everyday staples for celebs like Billie Eilish and Kim Kardashian. ONFEMME spoke to Amanda about The Why behind her brand. Read the full story below.
Meet Amanda
Name: Amanda Tankel, Founder
Brand: cocoatemyshoes
Go-to Coco Piece
I wear the Bobbi everyday, usually layered with other pieces or by itself when I’m in a more chill mood. I love to also wear the pieces I’m working on for future collections, so right now I’m wearing the Bobbi and a piece I’ll be releasing soon that I’m really excited about!I The necklace is a blend of the Bobbi and Ludlow, which coincidentally happen to be my two favorite pieces from my most recent collection.
Shop Cocoatemyshoes
INSPO BEHIND THE BRAND
I started cocoatemyshoes initially as a hobby and an outlet during the pandemic chaos. I had been diagnosed with one of NYC’s first cases of COVID and after relocating to Los Angeles to be with my then-boyfriend, my mental health did a nosedive. At the time I was dealing with side effects from having Covid while also feeling completely lost and unsure of what I wanted to do in my life. After my relationship ended (he cheated), I started making jewelry to distract myself from what felt like my world was crashing down around me. For the first time, I was doing something I truly enjoyed doing and it felt like it could be something bigger than just a hobby. A few months later I made a necklace for Billie Eilish and when she posted it on her IG, I knew that I was right.
Dream / Favorite Celebrity Collab
This is a tough one! When I first started coco I made a list of dream celebrities I’d love to see wear the brand and almost three years later I’ve manifested a lot of them into existence - Billie Eilish, Kim Kardashian, Snoop Dogg, and Diplo to name a few. I’m a big fan of Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Emma Chamberlain's style, so I'd love to see them wearing coco.
What are you Obsessing over right now
Sourcing vintage charms! I have ADHD and get hyper fixated on things really easily. I’ll spend days trying to find specific charms that tell a story, which makes the necklace even more special because they’re a labour of love and 1 of 1. My mom recently sent me a bag of her and my grandmother's old jewelry so I've been having a lot of fun repurposing them into earrings and necklaces. I get a little sad when they sell but it makes my heart full to see them wearing something that was once owned by my grandmother.