Astley Clarke

Astley Clarke is a British jewellery brand that was founded in London in 2006 by Bec Astley Clarke.[1] Astley Clarke started as an online retailer, selling international jewellery designers such as Carolina Bucci, Pippa Small, Shaun Leane, Katie Hillier and Alex Monroe.[2] In 2009 Astley Clarke started designing their own jewellery, after employing a creative director.[3] In 2014 Astley Clarke changed from being a jewellery retailer to a jewellery brand, selling only jewellery which they design in their London Studio. Astley Clarke is known for their use of coloured gemstones, coloured Noble metal and diamonds. In 2013 Astley Clarke’s founder, Bec Astley Clarke, was awarded an MBE for services to the jewellery industry.[4]

History

Bec Astley Clarke

Bec Astley Clarke graduated from Edinburgh University with an MA in Politics and Philosophy then worked online and for luxury brands. Before founding Astley Clarke, Clarke was Commercial Director of iVillage.co.uk and Head of Non-Retail Strategy at Tesco.com.[5] Clarke was listed in Vanity Fair's 2010 jewellery power list [1] and was awarded Ernst and Young's 'Entrepreneur of the Year' Award for London and the South.[6] Bec Astley Clarke sits on the board for International Jewellery London [7] and is a judge for the Bright Young Gems initiative.[8]

Astley Clarke

Astley Clarke won Retail Jeweller’s ‘Jewellery Website of the Year’ award in 2008[9] and Walpole’s ‘Best Luxury Brand Online’ award in 2009.[10] In 2013 Astley Clarke hired a new Managing Director, Scott Thomson (previously of Fitflop)[11] and opened wholesale accounts with retailers Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom in the United States.[12] Google Apps for Work used Astley Clarke as a business case study in 2014 with a promotional video.[13]

Charity Work

Breast Cancer Now

In June 2005, Astley Clarke announced a charitable collaboration with Breast Cancer Now (formerly Breast Cancer Campaign).[14] They sold a bracelet of which proceeds were directed into research of the BRCA mutation. The bracelet was designed alongside blogger and BRCA spokesperson Emma Parlons.[15]

Theirworld

Astley Clarke announced another charitable partnership with children’s charity Theirworld in 2015.[16] Theirworld was founded by Sarah Jane Brown to support children’s healthcare and education projects.[17] Astley Clarke designed a bracelet incorporating the Theirworld charity logo, proceeds of which fund the charity.[18] The brand released an interview with Sarah Brown and Bec Astley Clarke on YouTube about the collaboration.

References

  1. 1 2 De Rosee, Sophie. "World of Bec Astley Clarke, online jewellery entrepreneur". Telegraph.co.uk.
  2. ↑ Van Der Post, Lucia. "One Fao the girls". Financial Times How to Spend It.
  3. ↑ Gonsalves, Rebecca. "Fine jewellery: Sales of the good stuff are soaring as shoppers target luxury at the click of a button". The Independent.
  4. ↑ "The Queen's Birthday Honours 2013" (PDF). Gov.uk.
  5. ↑ "Interview with Bec Astley Clarke MBE – Founder and Executive Chairman of British Fine Jewellery Brand, Astley Clarke". H Edition Magazine.
  6. ↑ "World of Bec Astley Clarke, online jewellery entrepreneur". Ernst & Young.
  7. ↑ Morton, Lauren. "IJL announces new board members". Jewellery Focus.
  8. ↑ "Bright Young Gems". International Jewellery London.
  9. ↑ Grove, Dana. "Astley Clarke to overhaul website". Retail Jeweller.
  10. ↑ Milligan, Lauren. "Walpole Awards Winners". Vogue.
  11. ↑ Alexei Kansara, Vikram. "Bec Astley Clarke on Building a Luxury Brand Online". Business of Fashion.
  12. ↑ Moore, Booth. "Meet Astley Clarke". Los Angeles Times.
  13. ↑ "Astley Clarke creates luxury jewelry on a global scale with Google Apps". Google.
  14. ↑ Cavalletti, Camila. "Astley Clarke’s Breast Cancer Campaign Bracelet". Good Housekeeping.
  15. ↑ Yablon. "UK’s first breast cancer bracelet to raise for genetics". Life of Yablon.
  16. ↑ "Theirworld charity bracelet with Astley Clarke". Theirworld.
  17. ↑ "Celebrities sign #UpForSchool at Theirworld and Astley Clarke event in LA". A World at School.
  18. ↑ Cartner-Morley, Jess. "Sarah Brown's mission to send 57 million children to school". Guardian.
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