In Conversation With Pepper You

Handmade with love in the seaside town of Seaford, each pair of Pepper You earrings is a little piece of art for your ears.

We are so excited to be welcoming Pepper You's beautifully crafted statement earrings to Utility. We caught up with Jade, the entrepreneur behind the brand. Discover all about her craft, her business turning two and her adorable cockapoo, Daisy.

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How did you get into jewellery design?

I had just made a huge career change and felt I needed another creative outlet. Gorgeous jewellery kept popping up on my Instagram feed and when I realised some of it was made from poly clay I was suddenly inspired to start playing around myself. I rushed to Hobbycraft one evening on a whim (late one evening, just before it closed) and I guess the rest is history! My partner laughed when I told him it was a 'hobby' because he knows me too well and sure enough within a few months I had created a logo and a website and was selling the pieces online. 

We see Pepper You recently turned 2, congratulations! How have you found the first two years?

Thank you! It's been amazing! Prior to Pepper You, I ran a furniture and homeware store called Little Deer (which I sold back in April 2019) Pepper You is very different to running the homeware business, I find it much more fun and creative! The last two years have been mad, and I can't wait for many more years to come!

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Where do you make your amazing designs? 

I used to have a studio in Brighton but in October 2020 we moved just outside of Brighton to a town called Seaford. I moved my studio into our new home which makes everything really convenient and helped me feel safer during the pandemic. Maybe one day I will get a studio in Brighton again, but for now, I'm so happy with my little home studio. 

We love your ethos of quality over quantity, can you tell us a little more about that?

I feel like fast fashion (amongst many other factors) is very guilty of encouraging us to consume as much as we can - to have more things. But that's just not what I'm about. I would rather buy something that is ethically made by an individual designer and cherish that item for years and years rather than buy many cheaper things from high street stores, where I don't know who made it and there's no love behind the items. Our planet is in crisis and needs us to cherish quality over quantity now more than ever - and that's why I like to spread that message and think about the planet in everything I do at Pepper You. I don't always get it right and I'm still learning every day but it feels good to be making items ethically with as little waste and footprint on the planet as possible. 

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Tell us about Daisy! (spotted on your Instagram!) 

Ahhh crazy Daisy! Shes a cockapoo, my partner and I got her about 2 and a half years ago now and it's been a journey! Having a Dog is a massive commitment but I love her to pieces! Because my studio is in my home it means I get to hang out with Daisy most days. She spends nearly all of her time in my studio sleeping though, so she isn't a great studio assistant! 

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Quickfire Round...

1. What's your favourite colour? ALL THE COLOURS!
2. What are you currently reading? Where the Crawdads Sing
3. Favourite city break destination? I'm much more of a new forest or lake district kinda gal!
4. Last TV series you binge-watched? Usually some kind of true crime documentary 
5. Favourite Instagram accounts to follow... @mindfulmarketuk for independent brands and @goodnews_movement for some good vibes! 

Shop the Pepper You Collection at Utility Gift today.

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Time for more? In Conversation With Alice & Chloe from Aloë Earrings | Why Books Make Great Gifts | How To Unleash Your Inner Eco-Warrior!

Photo credit: Jade Golding & Ella Mcleister