Irish fashion focus: ‘We want to be conscious of people investing in a piece that will last longer’
Jenny Kiernan’s Scribble and Stone jewellery brand began life on a market stall. Having tested her product, the line grew into a collection of high-quality, affordable pieces made with ethically sourced goldfill, silver and gemstones, and is now sold nationwide
Jenny Kiernan, owner of jewellery brand Scribble and Stone. Photo: John Lalor
14-carat goldfill interlock sparkle pendant curb chain, €139, Minimals Collection; 14-carat goldfill parallel earstuds, both scribbleandstone.com
14-carat goldfill minimalist ball pendant, from €139; 14-carat goldfill textured disc pendant, €109, Minimals Collection; 14-carat goldfill gemstone bracelet, €119, all Scribble and Stone, scribbleandstone.com
14-carat goldfill T-bar link chain, €139, Scribble and Stone, scribbleandstone.com
‘I was on quite a traditional path when I left school. I went to UCD and did a commerce degree,” explains Jenny Kiernan. “I thought you could only go to art college if you were a prodigy, so I didn’t even try. There was also that perception of ‘How would you make a living?’ Being a creative was feared when I was growing up.”
Kiernan had her doubts, but her artistic dreams continued to play at the back of her mind so she decided to take the leap. “In my early 20s I was working part-time in financial services while doing art and design. I did a HND in fashion and textile design in Edinburgh. In hindsight, all of my designs were accessory design.”
14-carat goldfill minimalist ball pendant, from €139; 14-carat goldfill textured disc pendant, €109, Minimals Collection; 14-carat goldfill gemstone bracelet, €119, all Scribble and Stone, scribbleandstone.com
Kiernan rented a small stall in Cow’s Lane, Temple Bar. She began to experiment with different designs and tested out her market. “I sold illustrations, clothing and jewellery. I was just making stuff to sell and trying to make a living.
“I read that when you’re starting out you need to give yourself time to fail and make things that don’t work.”
This process of elimination led Kiernan to her true passion. “Over time, I realised jewellery was working the best for me. In 2016, I had my first scaleable collection that I could sell to other shops.”
Kiernan knew she was on the right track when the likes of Kilkenny Design, Dublin Airport and Industry & Co began buying Scribble and Stone collections for their stores.
She had created a quality product at a perfect price point for her customers. “Fourteen-carat goldfill is such a wonderful material. It gives the look of 14-carat gold at a fraction of the price.
14-carat goldfill T-bar link chain, €139, Scribble and Stone, scribbleandstone.com
“Also known as ‘rolled gold’, it’s a layer of precious gold metal pressure-bonded to another metal, usually another yellow metal like brass. Not to be confused with its cheaper cousin, gold plating. It’s a wonderful and affordable material.”
Kiernan encourages her customers to buy less and buy better. “Scribble and Stone design is made from season to season so it all ties in. We’re too small to try to make a whole new collection every six months. We also want to be conscious of people investing in a piece that will last longer, unlike fast fashion.
“The materials can be recycled and we thought about the longevity of the pieces to reduce people’s carbon footprint.”
Find Scribble and Stone in selected stores or see scribbleandstone.com
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