Independent Jewelry Makers in Jackson, Mississippi
When the Sex and the City reboot on HBO Max launched on December 9, one of the show's leading ladies noted her jewelry had come from "an independent maker in Jackson, Mississippi." We'd like to think maybe one of these three Jacksonians could have been the inspiration behind the line.
![A white female in glasses against a colorful, geometric wall.](https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Casey-Jennings.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=337c8c701bfc0b9a7ea9f8ed95cdbd04 320w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Casey-Jennings.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=b78574af9e96486c5fd9de47f07e3099 540w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Casey-Jennings.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=1d330332e30585c5b427560238668c17 768w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Casey-Jennings.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=36cd62b9e0e539a68eac0e7534f49a7d 1024w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Casey-Jennings.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=c737a50458651dc0005031e4081221b2 1200w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Casey-Jennings.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=981874ce4665098f18f46391b312b9ae 1280w)
Casey Jennings, Ponderosa Drive
Casey Jennings is quick to downplay her success. “There are so many amazing women jewelry-makers that are already doing cool stuff in the area. I know my stuff is vastly different, but I just didn’t expect that response.”
What makes it different? Polymer clay. While studying graphic design at Mississippi State University, Jennings took several art classes, including sculpture. “Clay is pretty affordable, which is every college student’s dream,” she laughs. “I saw earrings my creative director gave his girlfriend and I thought, ‘How can I make those?’ I also needed them to be super lightweight.”
![earth toned colored shapes](https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Casey-Jennings-Jewelry-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=b65176215c640ed17204bead3c304cad 320w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Casey-Jennings-Jewelry-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=8d773791a1b063eb0461378f71395cae 540w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Casey-Jennings-Jewelry-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=d46a92a4ece6e0afc860431d7bc05674 750w)
A lightbulb went off – clay. “I started toying with it and here we are.”
In 2020, Jennings work was been featured prominently on HGTV’s “Hometown,” dangling from the ears of designer Erin Napier.
![A Black female in a hat with a wall behind with letters "SON"](https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Thabi-Moyo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=f9be8113682b605e03c9179c7173f42a 320w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Thabi-Moyo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=f4112ceec51bb29380e2e0c2974e1126 540w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Thabi-Moyo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=eb5c198b98faac2fab51f4f16c864e6e 768w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Thabi-Moyo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=18d50d8f9e601a846a1fc7866707f4cf 1024w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Thabi-Moyo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=a74af07091ce45d3d435bba5d25ed9ac 1200w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Thabi-Moyo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=16fd6f079daa62b48b9ae22bedb763f4 1280w)
Thabi Moyo, Xcessory Freex
Some people know her as a filmaker and storyteller, but lately, Thabi Mayo is being recognized for her jewelry.
The creator of Xcessory Freex, a handmade jewelry company in Jackson, Moyo has been working with hammered metals for about five years.
![Swirly aluminum earrings](https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Thabi-jewelry-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=c21100fb1ad6364441b89838b9467692 320w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Thabi-jewelry-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=2aa033653633a643c386cd283843edb4 540w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Thabi-jewelry-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=713e1cb0a6b1ab532998672d0a0f0690 750w)
"I'm super excited about that business," Moyo said. "It's my creative outlet my therapy - and I really enjoy seeing people wear my works.
A popular item, available in her online store, "A Tribute to Nina" has been a popular earring. Said Moyo, "It gets a lot of comments. It's a statement piece, and it's bold. But they're lightweight being made of aluminum."
![A while female with white glasses](https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Lauren-Miltner.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=1745f7ecc0ee832fc72e3f08a5c4a6ab 320w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Lauren-Miltner.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=c54433dae8c0a736a3ac62ac35e1223e 540w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Lauren-Miltner.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=08b866fd41572b8ff7a940919b884d27 768w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Lauren-Miltner.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=39dbc59343668a5361e8fc7791088fd6 1024w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Lauren-Miltner.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=9bbf118518857542239ffcf4ef6c6f6a 1200w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Lauren-Miltner.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=7de233619eb6742a97e048efd89c128d 1280w)
Lauren Miltner, Lo Lady Fashion
When Lo Lady Fashion first came into being, Lauren Miltner created jewelry because it was time she could spend with her mom as a creative outlet.
“I got into (the jewelry business) with my mother (Patti Betts), taking vintage artwork and upcycling it. We would Photoshop photos and rework them into pendant necklaces,” she said.
![a metal necklace featuring a pendant shaped like the state of Mississippi](https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Lauren-Miltner-Jewelry.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=c6668c3d99d6d23ee0c917afb4dbeda6 320w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Lauren-Miltner-Jewelry.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=f9fcd6675b617ba5c2e0160d1364b5ec 540w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Lauren-Miltner-Jewelry.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=5780ff376e7bea83496276332cdbc98f 750w)
But what she found was that jewelry was a unique way of expression and a way to forge connections. Her pieces are decidedly vintage-inspired, but with a sophisticated, yet minimalistic twist.
Miltner describes it as “vintage paired with something new, along with the dynamic of stones. It was this trifecta of my favorites – vintage, modern and gems and minerals. I love doing custom pieces."