Courtesy of Jacki Holland
Entrepreneur, artist, designer, wife, mother—creating a business card for Jacki Holland could get a bit complicated. Retailers from Chicago, New York City, Nashville, Portland, and beyond have been clamoring over her handmade jewelry creations, so why did this creative decide to move back to St. Louis? Below, we unveil why her hometown was a fresh move for this fashion veteran.
Your career in the fashion industry has endured more than a decade. How did you get your start? I began my fashion career in 2005 as a part-time sales associate at the Robin Richman boutique in Chicago. Over the years, I took on more and more responsibilities and within a couple of years I was the manager and assistant buyer. By the time I left I was running most things for the owner and traveling with her for all sales appointments, domestically and internationally.
Courtesy of Jacki Holland
With stints in both Chicago and Nashville, why did you make the decision to move back to St. Louis recently? It’s been 15 years since I last lived in St. Louis. I feel like I spent most of that time not wanting to move home. It was a very childish response to the idea of moving back to my hometown. The past two years in Nashville, my husband and I reflected on what we truly wanted for our family and our careers.
Once we started talking it through we—mainly me—realized we had been discrediting St. Louis for no good reason. We have such an incredible support system here. It seemed silly to not consider the move. After that, we began visiting the city outside of planned holiday trips and it really opened both our eyes. St. Louis has grown so much since I had moved away, and yet I hadn’t even realized it. After a visit earlier this year, we knew it was where we wanted to be. We have big ideas and cannot wait to work on developing them here in the city.
Some of the natural elements that are used in your work include bones, stones, and pearl. Where do you garner inspiration? I gather inspiration from history. I love old handwork techniques, textile work from centuries past, African masks, jewelry from ancient civilizations, Native American beadwork… It’s all very exciting to me.
How would you characterize your personal style? That’s a good question. I would say my personal style is defined by the mood I’m in when I get dressed each day. I definitely dress for my own self-enjoyment. I am not interested in trends. How something is constructed and what it is made out of is more interesting to me. That goes for vintage clothing as much as something brand new.
Courtesy of Jacki Holland
What is a current style trend that you adore? And one that you deplore? I adore that more people are starting to realize how important it is to support independent designers. I deplore disposable fashion. You don’t need to buy a new wardrobe every season. Style is something that comes from within… Wear what you love and it will last.
Do you have a favorite piece from your collection? My favorite piece(s) are the crystals captured in the macramé netting. It’s something new I’ve been developing, and I’m enjoying trying out different stones with this technique.
Besides jewelry, what are some other objects that you enjoy creating? Outside of jewelry, I love creating objects for one’s home. I have been designing new dream webs (my take on dream catchers) and incorporating Victorian mourning beadwork and trim. I am also collaborating with a tattoo artist in Chicago this fall and creating one-of-a-kind embroidered wall hangings based on her drawings. I cannot wait to get started!
