Lenora Dame

Lenora Dame considers her career in jewelry design something that evolved from an interest in all things vintage, and a desire to do something creative. A bachelor's degree in history and a ten year career in advertising laid some of the foundation but Lenora credits having grown up in a large entrepreneurial family that encouraged creativity with her decision to pursue a career in design.

Early on, Lenora, a collector by nature, found herself with a cache of vintage buttons. Works of art in their own right, she recognized how easily they could translate into jewelry. Original designs were almost exclusively made from vintage buttons and were one-of-a-kind creations, Victorian metals, bakelite, celluloid and glass were among favorite materials. A surprise came when high end boutiques were interested in the jewelry, and more importantly found an eager audience with the consumer. Curious for new ways to approach design, she began combining vintage with new materials which helped increase the assortment and created a distinct look.

Looking back to move forward, maintains a certain aesthetic that Lenora favors. She uses vintage components as much as she can, resulting in a look that is familiar and fresh at the same time. Mixing materials is another signature of the line. It would not be unusual for a piece to be made from metal, wood, and fabric. Vintage textiles and prints are a favorite resource requiring time in antique shops, flea markets and auctions. This has been a source of inspiration as well as a great way to find ingredients.

In September 2001, Lenora's sister Alison joined her, bringing a strong marketing and business background and a partnership was formed. A showroom in NY was contracted to broaden distribution of the line. Lenora Dame jewelry and accessories can be found in high end boutiques across this country, Europe and Asia, She has designed exclusive pieces for Anthropologie, Free People, Henri Bendel , Jasmine Sola and Boston Proper. Lenora lives in Chester County Pennsylvania with her husband Brooke Dolan and their two children.