Meet Ashley Gardner

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashley Gardner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Ashley, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

It comes from working in this field for so long! I don’t think I would be the same designer I am today if I didn’t spend 14 years designing mainstream bridal. It definitely got monotonous, but at the same time I really learned the possibilities and limitations to designing high quality jewelry. I want to make jewelry that’s interesting and will last the test of time.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a Jewelry Designer! I launched my own brand of mainly bridal but also all different kinds of jewelry back in April of 2022. My focus is on sustainability and ethically sourced materials. I source all of my stones from suppliers who can tell me exactly where the stones come from, whether that’s Montana or East Africa, I only want my pieces to come from places that contribute to local communities and economies that are making a difference in peoples lives. That’s also how I work here in Philadelphia, I do a lot work on jewelers row and try to support my fellow jewelers here as well.

My brand is really my creative outlet, I love sourcing one of a kind stones and making stunning one of kind pieces. My collections look and feel is undeniably “me” and I cant tell you how good that feels after spending so much time on the mainstream bridal side of things. I tend to design all of my pieces (bridal included) to have tons of vibrant color and texture! Hand engraving is a skill I started to really dive into in July of 2023 and haven’t looked back, its brought my work to the next level and its something I really enjoy. I’ve also gotten into doing Bespoke design work, I love working one on one with clients to make their perfect special piece of jewelry.

This Christmas season I’ll be doing some shop small sales on all of my one of a kind jewelry so keep your eyes peeled! I also have a new collection dropping on Oct 31st

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Definitely patience, being able to take criticism and working closely with others. I can’t imagine where I would be if I didn’t have the guidance of my fellow goldsmiths showing me the ropes as a young designer.

I think the most important part of starting a business like this is going into it knowing that you do not know everything. I can’t tell you how valuable it has been for me to learn from people who have been making jewelry for longer than I’ve been alive. I’ve seen how some young people act fresh out of college and I can’t stress enough that YOU DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING even with your degree, there is so much to learn in the field and you should always take advantage of a new learning opportunity. I also think its important to have good relationships with the people around you who are also developing their businesses in your field, you never know when you might want to ask for a bit of advice or need some help in a pinch. My moto is always be kind to everyone.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

My parents always believed in my artist ability. I remember being scared to ask if i could go to art school when i was applying for colleges, but when i finally worked up the courage to ask my mom said to me “what else would you do?” which is pretty great. I also know that they both always have my back and are so ready to cheer me on and encourage me. I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without them having faith in my abilities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rendragjewelry.com/
• Instagram: @rendragjewelry
• Other: tiktok @rendragjewelry

Image Credits

Photos by Ashley Lynn Harbon