Kathleen Sabol has moved through the world with a creative instinct, but it wasn’t until graduate school that she realized jewelry was more than a hobby — it was her language.
While she spent her days immersed in analytical coursework at the University of Florida, her nights belonged to a different kind of discipline: transforming found objects into wearable art. Her impressed classmates paid $20 to don her pieces.
In 2016, the jewelry designer and her father, Byron, formed Mila + Stevie Jewelry, a line that blends a free‑spirited, bohemian sensibility with a touch of modern glam. Pairing natural gemstones with hand‑worked metals, each design bears a woman’s name — an homage to the muses who embody the brand’s confident, creative Mila + Stevie spirit.
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“Our line is made for the woman who is bold, glam and iconic,” Sabol said. “All Mila + Stevie jewelry is easy to wear, fashion‑forward and affordable.”
Based in North Scottsdale, Mila + Stevie began with a one-product website. Her first retail client, Adornments in North Scottsdale, gave Sabol tips on building a collection and selling wholesale.
“She said she wanted to sell my bracelet, but asked what else I could make,” she recalled. “‘Could you make a necklace? Can you make earrings?’ So, I started doing that for her, and that’s how I came up with the different product categories.”
Sabol finished grad school but, instead, turned Mila + Stevie into a “full-time hustle.” The jewelry is available in mom-and-pop stores and at 200 boutiques across the United States. She attends trade shows across the United States to introduce her products to retailers, and the Valley’s Junk in the Trunk events.
“We have been able to grow the business into a profitable one,” Sabol said.
“2025 was our best year, and we are very excited for the future of the business. We do not lose sight of our customers, and we still get excited with every order we receive. Working with customers never gets old.”
Customers count many of Sabol’s creations among their favorites. Especially popular is Mila + Stevie’s signature piece, personalized initial necklaces and bracelets.
“Anything with any sort of personalization is popular,” she said.
“People love a personalized element. That really made the initial jewelry popular. We saw a tremendous growth with our ‘empower’ and faith-based ones.”
She has always had faith in Mila + Stevie. The brand’s growth has kept her passionate about the business.
“So many of the boutiques we work with are so inspiring themselves,” she said. “A lot of them are women-owned businesses. They’re family-owned businesses just like ours.
“My dad is my business partner. My mom [Joy Sabol] helps me sell the products. Working with this business structure keeps me excited and passionate. Our wholesale world and our direct-to-consumer side allow me to engage with the customers at events.”
Recently, she has been debuting her spring collection, which is available starting in March. The line will feature earthy vibes with pearls.
“They are great,” she said. “They’re very beachy, super fun and pretty. This goes back to our tagline: ‘glamour with edge.’
“We’re always thinking about how we can add an edgy element to it. So, we have a pearl necklace that’s half pearl and half chain, rather than a solid strand of pearls. This isn’t your grandmother’s pearls.”
