 In
an adorable little boutique, nestled in a beautiful row of
historic brownstones on the tree-lined East 71st Street in
Manhattan hangs the crisp wooden sign for KEP Designs. Since
2004, women from all over the country have been able to step
through the door of this shop and transform their look with
the close of a tulip clasp. When the designer of these classic
yet modern pieces, Kelley Pillman, made her journey from Chicago
to New York in 2001, she did not originally set out to become
a style maven. Her unexpected career started one wedding season
as she searched far and wide to find the perfect necklace
to compliment the ideal black dress that she intended to wear
to a friend’s black tie wedding. As the event drew near
Kelley could not find the simple, classic design she envisioned
in her head
as the consummate compliment to her new favorite dress. Instead
of compromising, the stylish and resourceful young lady created
her own necklace. And so the first piece of her collection
was born – a triple strand, pink opal necklace. As guests
complimented her necklace, they were thrilled to find that
Kelley had designed the piece herself. The seeds for KEP Designs
had been planted.
She
spoke to her friends and found that she had not been alone
in her quest for fun, but elegant jewels. Kelley began to
design simple, fresh jewelry – the inaugural “Classic
Collection” - using semi precious stones allowing her
young shoppers to be able to afford the stylish pieces and
start building a collection. A buzz began to build in the
summer of 2002 as she and her friends wore the glamorous
baubles around Nantucket and other summer towns. Boutiques
began placing orders. Brides began commissioning necklaces.
Kelley began realizing her dream of creating an elegant
line of accessories for young ladies and stylish women -as
one editor put it Kelley’s designs are a “modern
take on the classic Jackie-O look.”
The design of her first custom clasp - the now signature
“Tulip” – was received enthusiastically.
The Tulips provide an introduction for even more color and
personality into the pieces and encourage layering of necklaces
as the clasps play off each other so beautifully and effortlessly.
The success of these fun and feminine pieces inspired her
to begin introducing new custom designed clasps using precious
metals and stones.
Whether it’s for a cocktail party on the beaches of
Nantucket or the crisp button down you have just purchased,
KEP Designs offers ladies an instant transformation with
elegance, taste and personal style.
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