A Legacy Born from Boldness, Beauty, and Vision
Celebrating over 2 decades of creative evolution, Nontle Jewelry began not in a studio or showroom, but in a moment of personal necessity and artistic curiosity.
In 2004, on the HBCU campus of Kentucky State University, founder Danielle-Nicole was preparing for her Spring Formal. She searched tirelessly for the perfect statement piece, something that reflected her unique sense of style, strength, and individuality. After hours of visiting boutiques and stores across town, she found nothing that resonated. That’s when she spotted a necklace with the perfect design, but in the wrong color palette. It was enough to spark a thought: “What if I made it myself?”
With no formal training, only intuition and a deep creative spirit, Danielle-Nicole headed to the craft store. She picked up beads, tools, and wire, and spent the next few days immersed in the art of beading. The result? A handcrafted piece that turned heads at the Spring Formal and ignited a passion that would grow into something far greater. The praise she received that evening affirmed what she already knew: this was just the beginning.
She named her brand Nontle, inspired by her daughter. In Xhosa, Nontle means “Mother of Beauty,” a reflection of Danielle-Nicole’s journey into motherhood and her desire to create beauty not just for herself, but for others.
In the years that followed, she refined her craft by creating pieces for family and friends, eventually launching Nontle Jewelry to the public in 2008 through local pop-up shops and artist showcases. Her bold, expressive designs quickly gained a loyal following. People were drawn to the authenticity of her work, each piece infused with cultural symbolism, intention, and emotional resonance.
In 2010, Danielle-Nicole made history as one of the first jewelry designers to have a dedicated walk at Fashion Week Columbus, a groundbreaking moment that placed Nontle Jewelry alongside the city’s most celebrated creatives! From that point forward, the brand continued to flourish, with features in magazines, gallery exhibitions, and fashion runways across the region.
Today, Nontle Jewelry is more than a brand, it is a movement of adornment and affirmation. With each handcrafted piece, Danielle-Nicole honors a lineage of people who express their power through beauty, resilience, and unapologetic self-expression. Over 2 decades since that first necklace, her work continues to capture the spirit of those who wear it, bold, radiant, and rooted in story.