Where it all started
Hi, I’m Neil, the creator of Bro-Kin Strings. The journey began in 2016 during the unforgettable chaos of the Cork Jazz Festival. My Irish cousins were performing passionate gigs all weekend, breaking guitar strings left, right, and center. After finally getting home from the festival in the early hours of the morning, I found myself sitting in my cousin's kitchen, surrounded by family, the buzz of music still lingering in the air.
It was there, with a slightly tipsy burst of creativity, that I started playing around with the broken guitar strings. Before I knew it, I had crafted my very first bracelet. What started as a fun, spur-of-the-moment idea quickly turned into a hobby and eventually grew into Bro-Kin Strings, a brand built on family, music, and creativity.
The name reflects the roots of the story—two brothers breaking strings in their passionate playing—and the unique way those strings sparked something new.
Making it happen
Creating each piece at Bro-Kin Strings is more than just a job—it’s a true passion of mine. After spending my days scaffolding as my full-time work, I spend my evenings in my workshop, crafting unique bracelets, necklaces, and earrings from guitar strings that I’ve carefully collected. These strings come from all sorts of places—music stores where display guitars are regularly restrung, as well as from artists, both well-known and emerging, who generously pass their old strings on to me.
I see these guitar strings as more than just discarded pieces; they’re memories, they’re music, and they’re a chance to create something meaningful. Instead of these strings ending up in the bin, I transform them into bespoke pieces of jewelry that someone can wear and cherish. Every item I make is unique, with each piece carrying a story, a history, and a personal connection.
Through Bro-Kin Strings, I’ve built strong connections within the UK country music scene, as it’s a genre I’ve always loved. Over time, I've been able to create personalized items for artists using strings played at key moments in their careers, while also giving back to their fans. During the challenging times of COVID, I worked with artists to run giveaways to spread some joy when it was needed most.
For me, it’s about more than just making pretty pieces—it’s about turning something meaningful, something people care about, into a keepsake that they can hold onto forever. Each piece is a tribute to the music, the artists, and the memories that have shaped them. That’s the heart of Bro-Kin Strings
