Gecko sells sophomore art student's jewelry - News

Gecko sells sophomore art student's jewelry - News

Gecko sells sophomore art student's jewelry
Claire Gould
Issue date: 3/10/09 Section: News


Media Credit: Lisette Ffolkes
Sophomore Lisette Ffolkes designs jewelry from objects she finds. Pieces are currently being sold at Gecko.

When customers walk into Gecko Fashions on Main Street and look into the display case under the front counter, there they are. Two little clay faces dangle from a pair of earrings, large colored beads are strung on bracelet-sized earring hoops and tiny clay awareness ribbons hang below sparkly pink and white beads.

This is the jewelry of sophomore Lisette Ffolkes .

What began as a hobby for this sophomore fashion merchandising major has become a business venture with the help of Gecko Fashions on Main Street.

Gecko is selling on consignment four pairs of earrings, which sell for $20 and under, designed by Ffolkes. The store also had a necklace of hers, selling for $35, but that has already sold.

Cassie Gonce, marketing coordinator at Gecko, looked at the designs Ffolkes brought in and approved the five she thought were most likely to sell for display in the store.

"Almost all of our jewelry is hand crafted, done by local artists, and I liked her pieces because they were unique, colorful, different," Gonce said. "One of her necklaces has already sold, so I know it's hitting the market of people that we get in here."

She said the store targets college students. However, local residents also shop at the store, especially during the summer and winter months when less students are around. She also sees an occasional professor.

Jamie Isaac, a sophomore fashion merchandising major, said Ffolkes' jewelry caters to more than just college students.

"I can see it appealing to working women because Lisette always finds a way to make it versatile," Isaac said. "You can wear it to work or you can wear it going out. She has a lot of chic designs that anyone can relate to and wear, and I think they'll really want to."

Ffolkes found Gecko by walking up Main Street and asking the stores if they would be interested in selling her jewelry. She said Gecko was the only store that sold jewelry on consignment.

Gecko Fashions owner Kay Snelling said 95 percent of the jewelry the store sells is local.

"There's a lot of local talent that's just as good as what I buy from other jewelry artists," Snelling said. "I believe in supporting local businesses, and the local jewelry artists are their own business."

Continued...

Visit Link