Lauren Brokaw started Stella and Bow in 2011, launching a brand that not only provides an affordable bridge to quality jewelry, but also a brand that believes in giving back and raising awareness for causes such as voting and saving the environment. Stella and Bow are dedicated to creating pieces that tell a story. Each individual piece has a unique history inspired by Brokaw’s experiences with traveling, modern art, and the vibrant culture that surrounds us daily. Details, such as the dainty delicateness or an edgier chunkiness of a piece, are all ways in which Stella and Bow translate feeling and stories into their unique pieces. Check out _Flaunt_’s conversation with Brokaw about Stella and Bow’s newest collection Modern III, a handmade collection inspired by modern architects.
**What is Stella and Bow all about?**
Stella and Bow is a fun and on-trend jewelry company that offers high-quality fine and demi-fine pieces while supporting organizations we love! Our designs perfectly marry femininity and edge, creating the perfect cool-girl accessory. We only use real materials with accessible and transparent prices. We started our company in 2011, before the D2C model was as popular as it is now. Each piece we design can be layered or worn alone as a statement piece, allowing our customers to build their collection and express their own unique style. Our brand evokes fun and whimsy and inserts pop-culture into its overall inspiration.
**What is the message the brand as a whole sends to customers?**
Since our inception, our message has been that high-quality jewelry doesn’t need to be expensive. There are tons of brands that offer wear and toss jewelry that isn’t crafted with quality and isn’t meant to last long. We take the approach that your jewelry should be wearable and last—never breaking or turning color. We’re a very personal brand and take this approach with our customers. We want them to know how much thought goes into each piece, and we hope they feel this throughout their shopping experience. When I first started Stella and Bow, there was no in between with fine and costume jewelry. We wanted to fill that gap and offer people jewelry at reasonable price points but still expect high quality materials and craftsmanship.
**Stella and Bow is known for having quality jewelry that is also affordable, what is the importance of that intersection?**
High-quality jewelry is the foundation of Stella and Bow. We are very environmentally conscious and want to create things that will last—both for the environment and the end customer. We also take retailers into mind when we create products. We want each retailer to be successful with our brand, this means no mass returns for poor quality.
**What influences the styles and designs of the pieces?**
We are always inspired! During non-COVID times, we were inspired by our travels, musicians, museums, runway shows, movies and television, etc. We take the inspiration and create collections around these topics. Depending on my current inspiration, you can find feminine and dainty, chunky or edgy, monochromatic, or bright and colorful pieces.
**Tell me about the newest collection Modern III and what inspired it?**
The newest collection is Modern III. This collection was inspired by Modern Architects. I love to research and learn, so with each collection, I pick a topic that I can learn about. For this collection, each piece is named after a renowned modern architect. These pieces are mostly all handmade in house with gold filled metal.
**The brand has caught the attention of many influential celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Janelle Monet, and Princess Meghan Markle. What is it like to see these leading lights wearing the brand?**
It is definitely surreal! You never know who will end up wearing what, there are so many factors involved, and it’s always a pleasant surprise! I am always grateful and honored that these inspiring and influential women give my small brand and designs a chance.
**Stella and Bow is heavily involved in philanthropy by advocating for many charities and has donated a significant portion of proceeds to nonprofits such as Planned Parenthood and The Breast Cancer Research Fund (BCRF). What is the significance of the brand being dedicated to supporting these organizations?**
My family instilled philanthropy in me from a young age. Giving back has always been important to me, and I feel lucky I’m able to incorporate that into my work. I believe you can find inspiration anywhere, and most people want to do good. To me, it’s a privilege to be able to create a piece and raise awareness for causes I believe in. It’s a fun and interactive way to use my platform to educate. Some of our most recent donations have supported organizations like I AM A VOTER, Baby2Baby, To Write Love On Her Arms, The Loveland Foundation, Planned Parenthood, any many animal rescues.
**What is the importance of having an all-female team at Stella and Bow?**
Surprisingly, the traditional jewelry industry was often made up of men. Often times, their vision didn’t reflect that of the end customer. My vision for Stella and Bow was always to offer a means of expression by empowering women not just through their fashion choices but who they’re supporting. We create designs with our end customer in mind—taking in feedback from our community and team – then have those products support causes that are meaningful to us, such as Planned Parenthood and I AM A VOTER.
**What can we look forward to in the upcoming year in regards to Stella and Bow?**
We’re excited to be releasing some bolder and more colorful styles come spring/summer! Dainty and timeless has always been our signature aesthetic, but we have some fun designs coming out soon.
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