The leap from high tech to jewelry design may seem wide, but Urban Posh founder Jeanne Kirkland has been able to successfully bridge the gap. Jeanne has always had a love of gems in her blood. The granddaughter of two gemologists, Jeanne grew up listening to stories of travels through the jungles of Africa and Sri Lanka in pursuit of finding that next precious stone. Thanks to their encouragement, Jeanne learned to handle, examine and understand the essence of a gem stone. Her appreciation of precious stones is steeped in a love of heritage and a passion for adventure, and it is these qualities which have become the defining characteristics of her Urban Posh collection.
Before she founded Urban Posh in 2004, Jeanne had been working in the high tech industry for five years. Jeanne was able to utilize the skills she had acquired as a student of business at the University of Texas at Austin to start selling her own jewelry design collection. Within a span of seven years, Jeanne has succeeded in establishing a small jewelry business and has expanded its reach on a nationwide scale.
Urban Posh jewelry has been described as the kind of collection that “makes a girl feel pretty.” The simple, accessible style of Jeanne’s designs is appealing to women who want an accessory that will accentuate their individual beauty without overwhelming it. Urban Posh jewelry is as delightful to write about as it is to wear.
Gold cocktail rings topped with jewel-toned stones look juicy-delicious. The stackable bangles give new meaning to the term “arm candy.” Either accessory is the perfect complement to those sleeveless summer dresses that everyone loves. Urban Posh necklaces are delicate gold chains adorned with sweet drops of citrine, quartz and topaz. Gold leaves decorated with subtle scrollwork give a hint of an exotic, bohemian style. The entire collection is beautiful, particularly the earrings which consist of luminous stones set into a series of gold hoops.
Jeanne Kirkland is a gem devotee with a solid business plan and a lot of drive; it is little wonder that Urban Posh has gained such widespread popularity. In the past three years, Urban Posh jewelry has been worn by models gracing the covers of popular magazines, including Elle, In Style and First. And the queen of the daytime talk show, Oprah Winfrey has featured Urban Posh jewelry on the cover of O Magazine twice! The most recent issue of People featured Urban Posh on their Charity Finds page, in recognition of the charitable work undertaken by the company. For the month of July, Urban Posh has pledged to donate 25% of the proceeds earned from the sales of their Jayla earrings to Americares, a foundation which provides humanitarian aid to people in crisis.
Between her charitable activities and achievements in the tough business of fashion jewelry, Jeanne Kirkland has a lot to be proud of. Urban Posh designs are ethereal and charming, just like Jeanne herself.
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