By Julita Cardenas

Published November 30, 2015

When Kendra Scott started her design jewelry business in Austin, Texas, she had $500 in her pocket and was “….sweating bullets.  I had a baby on the way and felt at times like everything was against me.”  That was 2002.

Today, Kendra Scott Design operates more than 10 stores, sells products in more than 900, and is a multi-billion dollar business.

Scott says, “I remember the lean years.  So, we make it a priority to give back.”  One example is their Dress for Success program which helps unemployed women with their clothing needs as they try to apply for jobs.  Scott has also been a major donor and volunteer for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  The commitment to “giving back” is so significant that the company has a program called Kendra Gives Back, which organizes parties, fundraisers, and other charitable events, some of which are conducted at their 10 stores.

Scott is also a major advocate for the “slow fashion” movement which is a small-but-dedicated movement in the fashion industry that deliberately stays away from doing business with operators involved in the “fast production” of clothes and jewelry under intense work conditions that often involve child labor, unfair labor policies, and unfriendly environmental practices.  Kendra Scott does not do business with people in foreign textile mills in China and the far East. It may take longer to bring a product to market, but Kendra Scott is doing well financially and still takes a personalized approach to her design process with her team of designers. Scott says, “Our customers appreciate our vetting process and can trust that the products they buy from us are as pro-environment and pro-labor as you can find anywhere.”

At the Mosaic District, Kendra Scott Design opened its store in 2012.  While there are other boutiques at Mosaic which emphasize the sale of jewelry, such as lou lou boutique and Alex and Ani, Kendra Scott Design takes a different approach with their customers said Ariel McMmillan, Events and Community Relations Manager. “We cater to our customers specific wants. We can make you a necklace or pair of earrings here at our color bar.” A visit to the color bar revealed that many of the items on sale at the store can be color-changed immediately, depending upon the customer’s choice, a feature that few other jewelers offer because it requires sales employees to also have jewelry making and design skills. This allows the customer to be the designer, which is a unique twist on slow fashion. “Our styles are more adaptable than other jewelry brands. All of our employees here at Mosaic are like stylists. Whether you’re a hipster, preppy, or a romantic, we have something for you,” McMillan said.

The products at the store are often distinctive, a unique blend of metal and stone. Kendra Scott’s associates have marketed the brand as being more affordable than most designer jewelry, which indeed it is. However, while Scott saw a gap in the jewelry industry and wanted to create a brand that was more affordable and artistically-made, not everyone agrees that it is affordable. 22-year-old Alex Sullivan said, “I walk into the Kendra Scott location at the Mosaic District every once and a while and love the designs. Everything is so trendy and cute, but I can only look most of the time. Sometimes I decided to splurge, but being a recent graduate, I can’t really do that too often.” An older customer, 53-year-old Lillian Baker said, “While this boutique has beautiful jewelry, it is pricey for most people. I love Kendra Scott, but I’m trying to save money for my daughter’s college education.”

 

Not everyone wants to splurge on designer jewelry- for some, whether designer jewelry is worth it or not is in question. For others, they collect the delicate and attention-grabbing designs of Kendra Scott- not contemplating the prices.

 

It remains to be seen if Kendra Scott’s prices will go up or down, however, it is less expensive than most designer jewelry- when compared to Kate Spade, Chanel, Armani, and Givenchy.

 

A new Kendra Scott location which will soon open at Reston Town Center in one week.