ECHOage Spotlight
Karen's Favourite Quote
“I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” – Estée Lauder
She's All That
About Karen
Karen was born in New York City. Her parents immigrated from Iran, leaving everything behind to rebuild everything again. They found themselves in the diamond industry, where Karen would be immersed wholeheartedly in the people and materials of the jewelry business. Along with her father, her aunt and uncle had shops in the diamond district where Karen would spend her days, and eventually begin working at just 14 years old. As a young teenager, she learned everything there was to know about jewelry and the manufacturing process. Little did she know at 14, this would be her forever passion.
After a successful career in fashion, she always knew her heart was in jewelry. With an incomparable knowledge, passion, and background, solidified by a childhood surrounded by jewelry makers, Karen knew she had a fresh point of view. She was equipped with generational skills and years of her family's teachings. While continuing to work, mothering two children and pregnant with a third, she saw an opportunity - from there, VDH was born.
Upon moving to Toronto, Karen began knocking on doors in the diamond district looking for dealers, gold casters, goldsmiths, and suppliers of finished goods. Even with an extensive background in jewelry and her vision to go direct-to-consumer and build her own website, it was a struggle, as most would not take her or her pregnant belly seriously. She is now the President of her own jewelry brand and all those who doubted her now supply.
Resilient. Beautiful. Strong. We make jewelry for women who share the same qualities so they can be their most extravagant selves every day.
Why we love Karen
Karen inspires us. She's one of these generous, lovely, warm women who is also super ambitious, successful and humble all at once. What a killer combination! Karen wants women to feel beautiful and look beautiful. When you interact with her company Van Der Hout you can feel the experience that Karen created from the first moment you arrive at the website until the second your jewelry arrives at your door. Then, you wear her jewelry and you know there is devotion to excellence in her designs. She does what she loves and she does it so well. We salute this amazing entrepreneur and feel proud to put her in the ECHOage spotlight.

Kim Smiley
CEO & Creative Director
Kim Smiley Inc. & Empathy Empire

Alana Kayfetz
Founder
Mom Halo

Melissa Weber
Founder, Creative Director
YogiStoned

Samantha Yaffe
Co-Founder, Chief Curator
Upcycling It

Ivanka Siolkowsky
Founder
The Tidy Moose

Lisa Sonshine
Founder of Sonshine and Broccoli Entertainment Ltd
Sonshine and Broccoli

Julie Cole
Co-Founder and Senior Director
Mabel's Labels Inc.
Zelia Mouana
Co-Founder
KASPACE CAFE

Onome Ako
CEO
Action Against Hunger Canada / ACF Canada

Tovah Barocas
President
Earth Rangers

RonniLyn Pustil
Founder and Curator
Gluten Free Garage

Lianne Kim
Founder & CEO
Mamas & Co.

Nadiia Lagutina
Educator, Recruitment Specialist
ILAC

Sandra Hawken
President & CEO
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation

Jennifer Raphael
CEO, North America
Innovative Beauty Group

Adina Lubek
Principal - The Leo Baeck Day School
The Leo Baeck Day School

Carolyn Drebin
Co-Founder
Kitchen Co-Op

Marlie Cohen
Founder & Coach
Kale and Krunches Inc.

Melanie Rousseau
Founder and CEO
Money Mama TO

Karen Van Der Hout
President
Van Der Hout Jewelry Corp

Britteney Ofodile
CEO
Britteney the Coach

Liz Feld
Educator/Student

Aleksandra Malkin
Influencer/Leader/Business Owner

Nora Constas
President & CEO
Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre

Gillian Kuriyan
Owner/Director
Mommy Connections Midtown Toronto

Anika Apollon
Founder
Birthday Wonders

Valerie McMurtry
President and CEO
Children's Aid Foundation of Canada

Jill Farber
Executive Director
Autism Speaks Canada

Simone Robinson
Community Giving Officer
Community Food Centres Canada

Karen's Favourite Quote
“I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” – Estée Lauder
Category
Share this page