She’s Got Memphis Charmed: Meet the Jewelry Designer Behind Janey Bee Jems
She started making jewelry at her parents' kitchen table at 19. Today, her designs have landed in Anthropologie, and her popular charm bars are bringing people together across Memphis. Meet Janey Bee Jems founder Brooke Ballard! Image: Emma Fox
At 19, Brooke Ballard started making jewelry at her parents’ kitchen table, never imagining her creative outlet would become a thriving business. More than a decade later, her Memphis-based brand, Janey Bee Jems, has partnered with Anthropologie, expanded into retail shops nationwide, and become a local favorite thanks to its interactive charm bars. From changing her college major to seeing her designs on the Memphis Fashion Week runway, Brooke’s journey has come with some remarkable full-circle moments.
How has growing up in Memphis influenced your creative journey?
Memphis has always been home in one way or another. I was born here, and although my family moved to Southaven for part of my childhood, I grew up in the greater Memphis area. My connection to the city really deepened when I attended the University of Memphis to study fashion.
The fashion program played such a pivotal role in helping me discover my creative identity. It’s where I began to flourish as a designer and where Janey Bee Jems really started taking shape. Years later, I had the opportunity to return as a professor in the same program, which was an incredibly meaningful full-circle experience.
What inspired you to launch Janey Bee Jems?
My business journey has been such an unexpected adventure. I started Janey Bee Jems in 2015 at 19 years old, sitting at my parents’ kitchen table, making jewelry simply because I loved it. I had recently changed my major [from nursing] to fashion at the University of Memphis, and for the first time, I felt like I was really allowing myself to explore who I wanted to become creatively.
I started selling my pieces on Etsy, and things gained momentum much faster than I ever anticipated. Within the first year, I had signed 50+ wholesale accounts, and what started as a creative outlet was quickly becoming a full-fledged business.
One of the most surreal moments was partnering with Anthropologie, a brand I had admired for years. Seeing my designs represented on that scale was something I never could have imagined when I first started.
What is it about charm necklaces that resonates so deeply?
In a world where so much is mass-produced, and trends come and go so quickly, people are craving pieces that feel uniquely their own.
Charms have this wonderful sense of nostalgia attached to them. They remind us of childhood, collecting little treasures, and finding meaning in the smallest things. But what I’ve come to love most about our Charm Bar is the stories people share with me while creating their pieces.
What jumpstarts your creativity when designing new pieces?
My creative process usually starts with a little research. I love exploring current color trends, getting lost in Pinterest, and seeing what sparks an idea. Texture plays a huge role in my designs, and lately I’ve found myself returning to the vibrant, unexpected color combinations that exist so effortlessly in nature. Sometimes the most beautiful palettes are the ones we walk past every day without even noticing.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
It actually came from my dad, on the night I told him I wanted to change my major from nursing to fashion.
I remember being so nervous to tell him. I was afraid he would be disappointed in me for walking away from a more traditional career path. When I finally worked up the courage to say it out loud, I looked at him with tears in my eyes, and he simply said, “Find something you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
I’ve carried those words with me ever since.
What would you tell someone just starting their own creative journey?
Comparison is the thief of joy, and that’s something I’ve had to remind myself of constantly throughout the past 11 years. With social media giving us such an intimate look into other people’s lives and businesses, it’s incredibly easy to get caught up in someone else’s success and start questioning whether you’re doing enough or measuring up.
But I’ve learned that there’s no universal timeline for success, especially in a creative field. Your journey isn’t supposed to look like anyone else’s, and the very things that make you different are often what make your work special.
What makes Memphis’s creative community so special?
I truly believe the people and sense of community here are what make this city so beautiful. We show up for one another, champion each other’s ideas, and genuinely want to see each other succeed.
Having the Charm Bar has given me the opportunity to connect with so many incredible small business owners, especially women, who have taken a chance on me, welcomed me into their spaces, hosted events, and shared my work with their own communities. That kind of support is something I’ll never take for granted. Word of mouth is everything for a small business, and I’ve felt incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by people who believe in what I’m creating.
There’s this unspoken understanding that when one of us succeeds, it creates more opportunities for all of us.
How would you describe the quintessential “Memphis style”?
To me, Memphis style is unapologetically individual. There’s such a beautiful mix of Southern tradition and unconventional creativity here, and I think that contrast is what makes the city so interesting. Memphis has always had a certain spirit about it — a little rebellious, incredibly soulful, and full of personality. I think the passion of this city really shines through its people and the way they choose to express themselves.
What have been some of your favorite collaborations?
I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with some incredible brands and businesses over the years, and each experience has been meaningful in its own way. Partnering with Anthropologie was certainly a career-defining moment, but one of my most special experiences happened right here in Memphis.
This year, Janey Bee Jems had the honor of being a premier sponsor for Memphis Fashion Week. It was an especially surreal experience because I remember being a young fashion student, pinching pennies just to afford a ticket to one of the runway shows.
To go from sitting in the audience as a student, dreaming about a future in fashion, to watching my own designs come down the runway and having my brand represented throughout the week was something I’ll never forget.
What does your perfect day in Memphis look like?
I’d start the morning by grabbing coffee from Dr. Bean’s or Cxffeeblack, followed by an estate sale (I’m always on the hunt for something interesting!) and a visit to the Dixon with my husband, Blake.
For lunch, we’d probably head to Bain Barbecue, Petals of a Peony, or Slider Inn. I love a day that doesn’t feel overly planned, where we can just wander around the city and see where we end up.
Ideally, we’d spend the evening at Ugly Art Co., catching a great show and spending time with friends in the local art community. We’d finish the night with dinner at JEM Dining, Amelia Gene’s, or Good Fortune, and maybe pick up a bottle of wine from Rootstock Wines to enjoy at home.
To me, that’s the perfect Memphis day — a little creativity, a little spontaneity, and a lot of really good food.
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Rachel Mullen
Born and raised in Memphis, Rachel is a third-generation Memphian, professionally trained pastry chef, and owner of Primas Bakery. As StyleBlueprint’s Memphis Market Leader, she is passionate about highlighting the people, places, and stories that make the Bluff City special, with a focus on community, culinary experiences, and meaningful connections.
