For jewelry designer Kendra Scott, designing means more than a gross profit — it means community.
Scott’s company opened its first Louisiana store in Perkins Rowe this spring, but the store hosted its grand opening event on Sept. 18.
The event featured Scott’s collection, and 20 percent of all sales was donated to the American Cancer Society. For Scott, philanthropy is the heart and soul of the brand.
“I care more about our customers and our family than anything else,” Scott said.
Scott said her first business was designing headwear for women undergoing chemotherapy, having lost her stepfather to brain cancer. During this time, she said what was most important in her life became very clear. While she couldn’t save her stepfather, she knew there was a way she could give back. So, with every collection Scott puts out, philanthropy comes right along with it.
“If I could use my skills in fashion design to give back in a meaningful way, that would be success for me,” Scott said.
Scott said this is the foundation and core of her business, and as the company continues to grow, they “need to give back in a meaningful way.” Just last month, the company gave more than $50,000 in “Kendra Gives Back Dollars” from store events. On top of the monetary donation, this year, more than 40,000 pieces of jewelry have been given to organizations and their causes.
“That’s what I’m going to be most proud of when I’m 80 years old and sitting on my porch — that we did something really good, and I did something that I love in the process,” Scott said.
Scott said she knows the customers that wear her jewelry also have this mind set, and it’s more than just a fashionable accessory when they decide to make a Scott purchase.
The bright colors and one-of-a-kind shapes are also a draw of Scott’s company.
Scott said her jewelry has the to take something simple, like jeans and a T-shirt, and turn it into something more dressed up. She said her designs can revive something average and take it up a notch.
Scott is always brainstorming what she can bring to her customers.
“I’ll start sketching things on napkins sometimes,” Scott said. “I mean, I literally see design in everything.”
All of the company’s stones come in a rough state and are hand-cut. She said they also design their own molds. What comes out of Scott’s stores, from the bright colors to abstract shapes, can’t be found anywhere else.
“I’m always designing. I never stop designing,” Scott said. “Right now, I’m designing a year out so I’m designing for fall holiday of next year.”
Scott said she had no doubt that Baton Rouge was the right place for the company’s first Louisiana store. She said this is where her customers are, and the community was asking for her designs to be available here. Once Scott and her company visited Baton Rouge and saw LSU’s spirit, the capital and the fashionable consumers, there was no question Scott needed to open a store here.
Scott also plans to get her company involved with LSU. She said her design team will be involved with the Textiles, Apparel Design and Merchandising department at the University.
“We’re so excited to be a part of what is happening in the fashion world at LSU,” Scott said.

Gallery • 7 Photos

Sam Karlin

Kendra Scott Jewelry had it's grand opening party on Thursday, September 18th, 2014 in Perkins Rowe.