Local jewelry designer draws inspiration from the early 1900s

Reinventing jewelry from the early 1900s is a passion one Aiken resident shares with the world.

Designer PJ Bundy grew up making jewelry exclusively for her mother. She never dreamed it would turn into a fashion line worn at red carpet events around the world.

"My mother was a real fashionista. She had all of her clothing handmade," said Bundy. "She loved large jewelry and wasn't really into the jewelry of the 1960s so I started making jewelry for her."

Bundy began making jewelry at the age of 9 and was able to learn the proper techniques during her teen years through a family friend who was a well known jewelry maker.

In her adult years, Bundy resided in San Francisco, Calif., and recognized a need for clothing to fit petite women. At the time, petite professional women were being told to shop in the girl's clothing section in order to find their sizes. Bundy opened a boutique called Snappy Fox Petites which carried her designs.

After seven years, she sold the business in order to travel the world. She went to work for a packaging design company and frequented Japan, China, Taiwan, Italy, Austria and France. After a number of years, Bundy and her family relocated to Aiken where the inspiration for her jewelry line was born.

"I have taken things from a lot of Southern women. They have so much sophistication. I wanted to take jewelry reminiscent of the '30s and '40s style and kick it up a notch, give it something new," said Bundy. "I travel the world in search of everything."

Many of the items in her collection feature vintage Chanel chains, Givenchy medallions, Jade from Burma and hand-woven pieces from India. Each piece is hand-wired with every bead being placed in its exact location. No two designs are ever the same.

"My whole thing is I don't want a woman to see herself walking down the street," said Bundy. "Neiman Marcus approached me to carry the line, but I said no because they wanted several of each piece."

The PJ Bundy Collection has quickly gained an international reputation. Bundy's designs are being worn in Canada, Spain, London and more. One of her most recent designs will be featured in the Canadian Broadway Show "Priscilla Queen of the Desert." In October, Bundy has plans to sit down with Elle Canada to plan a feature on her jewelry line.

"It all started a little over a year ago when a friend asked me to create a piece for her," said Bundy. "It all started here in Aiken. This is where my inspiration is derived."

Up until this point, she had only created jewelry for her mother and had never even kept a piece for herself. She is well known around Aiken for her work cleaning and sewing horse blankets, but as the word is spreading, her jewelry line is becoming more and more well known.

Each piece of jewelry is unique to Bundy. She finds the designs often come to her at 3 a.m. at which time she jumps from bed and begins sketching the designs. She infuses individuality and uniqueness into each piece and strives for the owner to feel the history and the love in each piece.

"The way something makes you feel is something you will never forget," said Bundy. "Every time you put it on, you will never forget that feeling, and there is nothing more personal than jewelry. I want these to be pieces that will become a part of your history and (be) passed down with the memories of how you felt the times you wore it."

Of all the unique pieces Bundy has collected from around the world to use in her designs, she is most attached to the Chanel chains.

"I love Coco Chanel, and when you hold the Chanel chain, you can feel the designs going through her mind," said Bundy. "She was a bold women before women were bold."

PJ Bundy's designs are available online at www.pjbundycollection.com. She also makes a secondary line featuring her creative designs constructed from less exclusive materials. Refresh in downtown Aiken carries this line.

Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@aikenstandard.com.