AW Fashion: RÊVE Jewellery

Siblings Duane and Teasea Bennett first launched their brand RÊVE Jewellery & Accessories in Kingston in 2006. Catering to modern, bold and stylish women who revel in life — the arts, culture and travel — and who have an appreciation for luxury and embrace fashion. The duo has, over the years, amassed an impressive client base spanning the likes of Kelly Rowland, Cherine Anderson and Nia Long, among others. And understandably so, as from the creative to the production processes, they aim to incorporate true Jamaican experiences into their designs.

All Woman Fashion (AWF) got the inside scoop on RÊVE Jewellery (RJ) from the brother and sister duo.

AWF: Have your backgrounds influenced the style of and the products you have chosen to carry?

RJ: To some extent. We enjoy travelling and have lived in parts of Europe, including the UK and France. But also being Jamaican, where we find that our people love fashion and are not afraid to try and wear new things once the quality and designs hold the same standard.

AWF: Describe the style of your pieces.

RJ: Best described as “wearable art” the pieces are not trendy but rather transcend time; the designs are often said to be timeless.

AWF: What does Rêve mean?

RJ: Co-founder Teasea Bennett, BSc, is bilingual (having her diploma in French) and Rêve is a French word which means “dream”, taken from the French verb “rever” (to dream).

AWF: What would you say you’re most known for?

RJ: Creating wearable art designs that are bold, avant-garde, haute couture designs.

AWF: What inspired the jump from jewellery to other parts of fashion? What else do you offer?

RJ: Trends and market demand inspired the shift. It’s important to not operate in a vacuum but be aware of fashion trends through research. Our clients asked for more than was within our network. Our boutique has grown to host and showcase other amazing talents which complements our line of accessories. Rêve Jewellery has four main collections: Tears of the Moon, Sweat of the Sun, Reign of the Earth, and the revolutionary Ben-IT Collection. The company also features a unique line of leather sandals, bags, clutches, natural skin & hair-care products and an all-natural wooden pen series.

AWF: How has your style evolved over the years? How has that change reflected in in the business?

RJ: Practice makes perfect; we have become better at what we do and our boutique now houses many other handmade artisans from Jamaica and the wider Caribbean in addition to the Rêve designs by Duane Bennett.

AWF: What got you started in the industry?

RJ: Duane took jewellery as an elective at Edna Manley and fell in love with the art of “goldsmithing”. Teasea would wear the jewellery and those designs piqued people’s interest. Shortly after, she resigned her job and focused on managing her brother while he studied and worked at building the company with her.

AWF: What inspired you to make a business of it?

RJ: We both desired to be entrepreneurs but honestly didn’t anticipate working together. But basically, Duane enjoys the arts and Teasea business; together it was perfect. We ventured after making the serious decision of focusing whole-heartedly on building a jewellery business that was different from the typical Jamaican jewellery businesses that existed at the time.

AWF: What type of training have you had?

RJ: We are a family business; Teasea holds a Bachelor of Science in Tourism & a diploma in French while Duane holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Goldsmithing (fine jewellery making). Over the years of operating the business we have collectively participated in several training programmes aimed at entrepreneurship. In 2016 Teasea was nominated as the official representative in the Caricom by the international agency America Caribbean States (ACS) representing female entrepreneurs within the creative industry.

AWF: Where do you get your inspirations to make the jewellery?

RJ: God and life, it’s the people, island, music, food and places which inspires the brand. Co-founder Duane Bennett always maintains that an “artist is born and not made”.

AWF: Does customer feedback influence the things you carry?

RJ: Yes, it unapologetically does. We proudly call our clients REVEllers and their continuous support and invaluable feedback has been instrumental in our diversity, growth and expansion. The repair, re-stringing services, wedding ring designing and natural hair & body care products including the clip-on conversion of earrings service are examples of their direct feedback in action.

AWF: You dabble in offerings other than jewellery. How do you stay relevant in fashion, more importantly the fashion business? How do you keep up that competitive edge?

RJ: “Secret inna mento but you haffi dance fi get it”! We are eternally grateful that God has blessed us with the talent and drive to have the love and passion for what we do and that our clients (REVEllers) respond so well to what comes naturally to us. Plus customer service is at the helm of our work; we strive to produce quality products, listen to our customers feedback, and put measures in place based on that information. We sincerely believe in the growth and development of our business & country; as a result we give of our resources as much as we can (specifically through our annual charity event RÊVE Wellness Festival. Above all, we stay true to who we are as individuals and as a brand. All of these things shape and direct our actions and are fundamental in having the competitive edge.

AWF: Are the pieces customisable?

RJ: Yes. Especially wedding rings. But statement designs and special requests from clients (aka REVEllers) are welcome.

AWF: Do you see yourself expanding soon? To where and doing what?

RJ: We see expansion as “growth & development” and these are at the core of business operations. The development of the Rêve website is an integral part of the focus on our company expansion.

AWF: How can people get their hands on Rêve designs (store address and hours, website, social media, and contact number)?

RJ: Call/visit us at (876)908-2498 in the courtyard of Devon House in Shop #13; Mondays-Fridays 11:00 am-7:00 pm CLOSED on Saturdays & Open Sundays 12:30 pm-6:00 pm. We invite everyone to join the REVElation movement on the main Social media platforms “Reve Jewellery” on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest & persons can even review their visit at “REVE JEWELLERY & ACCESSORIES” on TripAdvisor. Person can also sign up to our charitable and creative community at “REVE WELLNESS FESTIVAL” on Facebook & Instagram.