Jess Lively

Jess LC has been selected for the Designers of Chicago Collection at the Macy’s on State St! As you know, a few months ago I showed Macy’s my collection. Last week I found out that I was picked for this year’s group of jewelry designers. This means that my jewelry will be sold in the State St. Macy’s at trunk shows and the Designers of Chicago counter, pictured below.

There was a fancy press conference today announcing the Chicago designers they are picking for 2009 as well as the Fashion Incubator – Mayor Daley’s Fashion Council initiative. Though they didn’t mention me or any of the accessory designers, they did have an impressive speaker list including Tommy Hilfiger, Terry Lundgren (CEO of Macy’s), and Mayor Daley. I spent most of the event with my friend Kristin of organiK Revolution and The Fashion Show. She bought her new Flip Cam, and we captured a fair amount of the event. She’s busy creating a webisode covering the event which I’ll link here once it’s done.

The Back Story

Though getting into a single Macy’s isn’t an extremely big deal, this is a coming of age for me and my career. When applying to the University of Michigan and to the Ross School of Business, my essays stated I would get my jewelry line into a major department store (I think I mentioned Saks Fifth Ave., but no matter).

Today was also the second time I have seen Terry Lundgren speak. The first time was four years ago at a business school conference at his alma mater, the University of Arizona. After a case competition, I approached the HR VP for Macy’s with my first catalog. That catalog snagged me an internship at Macy’s in NYC in product development for their private label line, Baby Green Dog.

After the internship, I decided that I would venture out on my own rather than grow a corporate career. A relatively risky path. But here I am, two years after launching Jess LC full-time, and I am a designer carried in the same store. Incredible.

Which leads me to a huge thank you (THANK YOU!) to all of you who have supported me and my work. Without your help, this accomplishment would not be possible. Plain and simple.

Above is my friend and fellow Designer of Chicago designer, Dana Reed’s jewelry. We will be sharing a booth at the Sidewalk Sale next week on Tuesday and Wednesday downtown – more details to come.