Introducing: Reese and Taylor

Giorgio Armani admirably noted that "Accessories are important and becoming more and more important every day. They can completely change the look of an outfit, and women like the idea of having a wardrobe that's versatile." How right was he? The ability for accessories to transform an outfit from one style to another, up or down is truly satisfying.  

I'm a real lucky bunny as I'm able to introduce you to a new jewellery and accessories company called Reese and Taylor. Ran by childhood best friends Audrey and Sue, based in the USA, they aim to offer trendy yet affordable jewellery to young women like our bloggy-selves. At the moment they're working on an online shop but they've an ever growing Etsy store which is absolutely worth checking out regularly as new designs are often introduced and their Facebook page is great for keeping up with updates about new designs in progress. If you are after something special for a friend for Christmas or don't quite like or can't wear a particular type of chain/tie then bespoke designs are happily offered. With both extensive business and fashion experience under their sparkly belts we are in good hands with Reese and Taylor! 

I was sent these two gorgeous leather bracelets which retail at £11.63 each which is a truly reasonable price taking in a recent experience of a craft fair that was selling simple threaded 'friendship' style bracelets for £30. No faffing about one-handedly trying to measure your wrist size is needed as these are fully adjustable and no, once the bead is pulled to where you want it, it doesn't seem to want to go anywhere so you don't need to panic about losing your latest arm candy. They are made of great quality leather as they certainly don't feel like they are going to snap or stretch and are ideal for the military, equestrian and glam rock inspired trends hitting the high streets. 

These bracelets won't be for you ladies who are vegan, vegetarian or those who simply don't like wearing leather- but don't turn away just yet, there are plenty of other items on offer like this gorgeous 'Two Birds on a Branch Necklace' or this sparkly 'Purse with Snap Closure and Chain Strap' ideal for festive parties and adding a little sparkle and personality to an outfit. 

I can't go chattering on all the time, so what better way to get to know the ins and outs of the company than a little interview? I caught up with the ladies behind the creations... 

Hi Ladies! Where did the name Reese and Taylor stem from?

We came up with the name Reese and Taylor after going through a hundred possible business names that we could use. Sue was the one who thought of it when trying to combine her favorite shopping places but to break them into words. We were narrowing it down to two business names and felt Reese and Taylor stuck better because it definitely sounded catchy and professional, so we chose that one!

So, what inspired you to get started?

Audrey and I have always wanted to open our own business but never took the leap of faith until now. I went to a beading store over the summer one day in downtown DC during my lunch break and saw the most beautiful beads in there. I immediately started to gather a bunch of beads and put them together along with the materials to make a bracelet. However, I have never been very crafty with my hands so when I went up to the counter and asked if they could make the bracelet for me, the storeowner said they only sell the materials, not make them for you. That is when I started brainstorming and realized that a niche is missing in today’s market. I immediately phoned Audrey and told her my idea, that we should start a jewelry business where we can customize orders for our customers. Audrey and I grew up together and knew each other since elementary school. I couldn’t have picked a better partner and since she has a background in fashion and my background is in business, we believe our company will be very successful. 

You obviously already have a lot of skills, but what have you learnt since this venture?

What we both have learned since this venture is that in order for any business to be successful, we must be patient and take it one step at a time. You hear stories all the time of failed businesses that try to do it all at once because they want to have success overnight and end up failing. We know that it definitely takes a lot of hard work, patience, and motivation to get where we want to be one day, but we also know where our limits are. We know that as long as we are there for one another and that it takes time for success to grow, we will make it in this business. 

How do your design processes begin? 

We both obviously do a lot of research and brainstorming, but in order for any process to begin, we must have a plan in place. We do market trend reports and find the gap out there. We also ask ourselves, if we were the buyer, what would we like to see out there? So, there is a lot of back and forth before we begin the design of a jewelry piece but we always make sure our customer is happy with the end results. That is where customization comes into place. We adjust the end results for our customers and able to make any changes for them.

How would you describe your personal styles?

Audrey’s style is very edgy and eccentric. She is always in the current trends and tailor her styles that way. She is very stylish and not afraid to take risks.

Me, on the other hand, tend to go for the more conservative, modest but yet trendy look. I sometimes hesitate to wear what may be risky for me or out of the norm in my closet. That is why Audrey and I make such good partners. She always encouraged me not to be afraid to wear what is fashionable and stylish out there.

What is your most worn and loved jewellery item? 

Our most worn and loved jewelry item are the ones that Audrey created for our clients. She made this beautiful double rhinestone necklace that was a best seller at our recent expo and we both wear it also. We get compliments on it all the time about how great it looks for the price that we sell it at!

Do the roles of business and design remain separate between the two of you or do you both like to contribute to each area?

Audrey has always made jewelry since she was a little girl and I still remember to this day that she made me a pair of beautiful, blue crystal dangly earrings. She gave them to me in sixth grade and I will always cherish that memory. She has always been the more fashionable, talented individual when it comes to making jewelry and to this day, she is the same person but better at what she does. She is just absolutely impeccable and a perfectionist when it comes to her designs. That is why she went to fashion school. 

I, on the other hand, am more business oriented and that is one of the reasons why I went to business school. I love coming up with new ideas and making those ideas happen. Every time I think of a cool idea, I immediately share it with Audrey, whether if its over the phone, text or email so I can get some feedback and to not lose that train of thought! We do at times share our thoughts and give each other feedback, so even though Audrey is more design oriented and I am more business oriented, we still compliment each other by giving each of our inputs. 

What’s next for Reese and Taylor?

We have so much more coming for Reese and Taylor and cannot wait to share with our fans! We are coming up with a jewelry kit where we will teach you how to make the jewelry that we are currently selling and also, we are working towards building our own website. What we will promise to our fans is, Reese and Taylor is not another jewelry store that sells trendy pieces for our targeted audience. We are a company that will offer conveienence and plenty of niches that people have never even thought of before, which will make us stand out in the jewelry business. 

We sincerely thank Claire for this interview, to our fans and anyone that is interested to see what Reese and Taylor will be offering and bringing into this market! 

Sue and Audrey will donate 10% of all profits during November to help victims of Hurricane Sandy - a beautiful gesture.

Would you like to win one of these gorgeous bracelets? Keep your eyes out for a giveaway that will follow shortly accompanied by a discount code!