{"id":11766,"date":"2026-03-19T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thestudententrepreneur.org\/?p=11766"},"modified":"2026-03-16T23:52:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T22:52:16","slug":"liana-faith-boutique-jewelry-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thestudententrepreneur.org\/?p=11766","title":{"rendered":"The Science of Soldering: How Sivan Katzav Built Liana Faith Boutique"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sivan Katzav started her jewelry-making business at 13-years-old, and has navigated filing taxes and entrepreneurial responsibilities. Photo courtesy of Sivan Katzav.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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What began as a small Instagram page run by a 13-year-old girl has evolved into a professional jewelry enterprise. For San Francisco sophomore Sivan Katzav, the transition from hobbyist to business owner is a masterclass in the “Science of Craft” and the discipline required to scale a student-led venture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Operating under the rebranded name Liana Faith Boutique, Katzav has moved far beyond her early days. \u201cI started my business in 2020 when I was 13,\u201d Katzav explains. \u201cBack when COVID started, I attended jewelry-making classes at a local bead shop and learned the technical skill of making soldered rings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Anatomy of a Rebrand<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the years passed, Katzav expanded her inventory beyond rings, eventually building a dedicated website and a successful Etsy store. The name “Liana Faith” honors the middle names of both Sivan and her mother, reflecting a shared passion for jewelry that anchors the brand’s identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the complexities of entrepreneurship, Katzav finds that her business provides a necessary equilibrium to her university life. For her, the craft is as much about mental health as it is about commerce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaking jewelry is really therapeutic for me,<\/a>\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s a good way to wind down after classes, and it motivates me to stay organized with my time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The “Science of Commerce”: Navigating Taxes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the boutique grew, Katzav realized that passion alone wasn’t enough; she needed to understand the “hard science” of business: federal taxation and financial reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I started a website, that\u2019s when I began learning about taxes,\u201d Katzav admits. \u201cI\u2019m not a business student, so I\u2019m still learning, but I do what I have to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To provide a deeper perspective for our readers, we consulted Dr. Betty Xing, an assistant accounting professor. Her advice for student founders is clear: documentation is the foundation of growth. \u201cAll income is taxable by default,\u201d Xing notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Xing emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between a business and a hobby. To qualify for tax deductions on expenses such as advertising, supply costs, or startup investigation, a student must demonstrate that the business is run for profit through meticulous bookkeeping and structured pricing strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Student Founder\u2019s Playbook<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These lessons in accountability have fundamentally <\/a>changed how Katzav operates. She no longer relies on guesswork; she relies on data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n