The Woman in SHE
For over six years, Aviola Accessories designer Melissa Preddie has created with women in mind. Her pieces, upcycled from recyclable materials, are eye-catching, lightweight and inexpensive.
The one-time resident of Mandeville, (she’s recently moved to Kingston), made the bold leap of quitting her 9-5 in 2013 to design hair accessories. “I’ve always felt uncomfortable in corporate and knew I wanted to start my own business,” she told All Woman Fashion (AWF).
Understanding the sustainability market and learning the business of recycled handmade trinkets coupled with guidance from the Social Development Commission (SDC) and the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) put her in good stead to realise her dream.
She started with hair accessories but would two years later unearth a passion she had no idea existed: jewellery design. She’s not looked back! In fact, not only is jewellery her best seller, but she’s expanded the line to include home accessories and corporate gifts and is currently working on the release of her ART collection.
“We enforce the importance of supporting the environment through affordable and wearable art: brass, bronze, copper and sometimes stainless steel are among the materials used, but 100% recycled plastic is the nucleus of Aviola Accessories,” she states.
AWF introduces the Spring 2019 collection SHE in honour of women.
Aviola Accessories is available on the north coast at all Couples Resorts and in Kingston at Heather Laine, 11 South Avenue Kingston 10.
