Emily Warden (Photos courtesy Emily Warden Designs)
A jewelry shop has joined the Strawberry Street retail row.
Emily Warden Designs, a shop and production studio for its namesake’s hand-made jewelry, opened Aug. 7 at 425 Strawberry St. in the Fan. The space was formerly home to The Pink Pig Boutique.
Warden studied art at JMU and started her business in 2015 while still in school.
Warden makes the jewelry herself in-store.
“I majored in metals and jewelry, and people kept wanting to buy my work from class,” she said. “I went full-time right when I graduated.”
A Norfolk native, Warden said she moved to Richmond after graduating because of its arts scene. She set up her studio at The Highpoint, a shared workspace for artists at 3300 W. Broad St. in Scott’s Addition.
“I’ve always had a studio somewhere, but I wanted a retail space. I found (the Strawberry Street spot) walking past it,” she said. “I was like, oh my gosh, this looks like the dream space.”
Warden makes rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings, as well as custom orders, typically for engagement rings and bridal jewelry. She said owning her own shop so soon is a bit untraditional for young jewelers.
“I’m only 23,” she said. “I don’t know many people my age who own a business or a store. Most jewelers end up working as a production person at another maker. It’s a lot but it’s been a dream.”
Warden’s shop joins a few other new businesses that have opened in recent years along Strawberry Street between its intersections with Park and Stuart avenues.
Scuffletown Gardens opened this year in the former Strawberry Street Cafe, ice cream shop Scoop opened last year in the former Video Fan and Idle Hands Bread Co. opened in 2017.
Emily Warden (Photos courtesy Emily Warden Designs)
A jewelry shop has joined the Strawberry Street retail row.
Emily Warden Designs, a shop and production studio for its namesake’s hand-made jewelry, opened Aug. 7 at 425 Strawberry St. in the Fan. The space was formerly home to The Pink Pig Boutique.
Warden studied art at JMU and started her business in 2015 while still in school.
Warden makes the jewelry herself in-store.
“I majored in metals and jewelry, and people kept wanting to buy my work from class,” she said. “I went full-time right when I graduated.”
A Norfolk native, Warden said she moved to Richmond after graduating because of its arts scene. She set up her studio at The Highpoint, a shared workspace for artists at 3300 W. Broad St. in Scott’s Addition.
“I’ve always had a studio somewhere, but I wanted a retail space. I found (the Strawberry Street spot) walking past it,” she said. “I was like, oh my gosh, this looks like the dream space.”
Warden makes rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings, as well as custom orders, typically for engagement rings and bridal jewelry. She said owning her own shop so soon is a bit untraditional for young jewelers.
“I’m only 23,” she said. “I don’t know many people my age who own a business or a store. Most jewelers end up working as a production person at another maker. It’s a lot but it’s been a dream.”
Warden’s shop joins a few other new businesses that have opened in recent years along Strawberry Street between its intersections with Park and Stuart avenues.
Scuffletown Gardens opened this year in the former Strawberry Street Cafe, ice cream shop Scoop opened last year in the former Video Fan and Idle Hands Bread Co. opened in 2017.
I visited Emily’s store on Friday after seeing the article here on BizSense. She truly has a gift and is producing some lovely pieces. She uses opals in many of her pieces which she says is her favorite stone which is a favorite of mine as well. She uses rough diamond which are unusual, beautiful and affordable. It is definitely worth a trip to see her shop.