MEET ASHLEY
The Inspiration Behind J/Hadley
What started as a whirlwind graduation trip through Europe, the Middle East, and Asia became the life-changing inspiration that created J/Hadley Jewelry.
After summer internships in the New York fashion world—and now with an SMU diploma in hand—Ashley Gilroy was ready to make her mark in the Garment District—but not until she took a brief detour that circled the globe as a reward for graduating early. Little did she know …
On Ashley's last day in India she took a final stroll through a shopping mall offering the best of India. As she entered the small jewelry shop, it didn't even cross her mind that her career—and life—were about to make a dramatic turn. As she strolled in, expecting another quick look-see, she stopped in mid-stride. She had worked fashion photo shoots and had seen a wide spectrum of fabulous jewelry that could light up an outfit and accent a woman's best features . But what she saw took her breath away. This was different. Ashley had found the shop of a leading jewelry designer whose hand-crafted offerings catered to the Bollywood movie crowd—and a small but growing fan base in the United States.
She knew that the exotic but contemporary styling she saw that day would play not only in Bollywood—but in Hollywood and in exclusive shops everywhere in between. And she was right.
That visit was the beginning of an apprenticeship in the world of fine jewelry—from precious stones to exquisite designs to sales and marketing. After three years of working under the tutelage of a family-run jewelry empire in India—and successfully launching the line to new markets in the US—Ashley knew it was time to take what she learned and create her own line, J/Hadley.
The name J/Hadley signifies many things to Ashley. She wanted the name of her line to represent two things that are important to her: a sense of gratitude and her family.
The “J” is Ashley's tribute to the Jain family in India that taught her everything she knows about jewelry—and whom she continues to work closely with—and also to her father’s side of the family, since James is a family name. Hadley is a throwback to her mother’s side of the family that grew up on Hadley Street in a small town outside of Nashville, Tennessee, where hard work, family values, and a love for life and a Higher Power were taught and lived.
J/Hadley Jewelry uses precious and semi-precious stones to create one-of-a-kind pieces that are ideal for layering or wearing as a singular statement piece. The hand-crafted collection is comprised of calm, neutral stone colors accented with pave diamond detail. Every woman can find her own inspiration—that perfect piece for her lifestyle, whether it is a long necklace to wear over a basic tee or large pave diamond earrings to spice up an elegant evening ensemble.
