Litter Jewelry - Shark Tank Update

Sisters Rachel Mann and Mackenzie Burdick brought their San Francisco-based upcycled jewelry brand to Season 3 Episode 8 with a concept rooted as much in philosophy as in fashion. Litter – the name a deliberate reclamation of a word's negative connotation – was built on the principle that the most beautiful accessories could be made from materials the world had discarded.

The sisters sourced their raw materials from yard sales, thrift stores, estate sales, and literal street finds, gathering vintage necklaces, broken brooches, old costume jewelry, and found objects that they transformed through skilled craftsmanship into distinctive body jewelry, headpieces, ear cuffs, and statement accessories. The creative spark came when Mackenzie disassembled an old necklace and wore the components as a headpiece, earning immediate compliments that invited both sisters into a full commercial exploration of what they had always done instinctively.

Despite the seemingly chaotic sourcing model, Litter had achieved consistent commercial quality: pieces costing roughly $2 in materials regularly sold for close to $100 in boutiques, reflecting genuine value-adding craftsmanship. Sales had grown from $78,000 to $150,000 annually, and the brand had already secured placement in Urban Outfitters and earned editorial features in fashion media.

Seeking $80,000 for 51% equity – an unusually high equity offer reflecting their awareness that they needed operational expertise more than just capital – they entered negotiations that ultimately saw Daymond John and Mark Cuban combine for a joint $80,000 investment at 70%, with Daymond handling manufacturing and retail distribution while Cuban managed digital and e-commerce strategy.

After intense negotiations involving multiple sharks, Daymond John and Mark Cuban partnered to offer $80,000 for 70% equity with salaries for the sisters - Daymond handling manufacturing and retail distribution while Mark managed the website. The deal proved initially successful, with the sisters appearing in a follow-up YouTube video with Daymond announcing a collaboration with fashion model Selita Ebanks.

Litter Jewelry expanded into high-fashion boutiques worldwide and was featured in a follow-up segment in episode 414, achieving $6 million in lifetime revenue by 2021.

However, the company faced challenges maintaining its online presence - their website went dark in 2022 with a "moving" message, social media updates stopped in 2018, and by February 2023, the website was completely gone, marking the end of this once-promising upcycled jewelry brand.