Meet Mimi Phillips | Jewelry Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mimi Phillips and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mimi, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
In my previous career, I worked as a stylist and art director and it was like a big scavenger hunt. Over time I started fantasizing about the perfect pieces of jewelry for clients and photoshoots. That was when Minnie Lane came to life. My collection is everything that I looked for, and dreamt of, but could never find. Within the industry, I saw a big gap in the market between serious investment items and fun mass-produced accessories that wouldn’t last a hand wash. My collection fills that void with fashion-forward pieces that are timeless in terms of design and quality, at an accessible price point.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
In terms of my brand’s aesthetic, my personal style certainly informs my design process. An elegance that doesn’t take itself too seriously is my style mantra. My designs bridges high and low; statement and minimal; vintage-inspired and new; sexy and silly; and pop and surrealism. The feeling of my brand rescues that playfulness we had as children but in a sophisticated and classic way. I love playing with art history and pop culture references to create something wearable. I consider each piece an amulet to girl power, an homage to a legendary woman, and a celebration of art. My design process is very hands-on, which I really enjoy. Each design begins with a 2D sketch. I get hypnotized in the process of bringing that sketch to life in wax- that is when I really feel like I am creating wearable art. The retail end is very interactive and fulfilling as well. I am a total people person and love working one on one with clients. I have a great time at trunk shows seeing how people integrate my collection into their personal style. (Fun fact: once a trunk show coincided with a local gynecologist convention, and I nearly sold out of my naked women collection to a fabulous group of female doctors who found the collection quite refreshing.) That is magic to me, and truly informs my design practice. I love to hear what people are missing or craving in their wardrobe and make their dreams come true with Minnie Lane. The most challenging part of having my jewelry line is balancing creative and business time. At the end of the day, I am running my own company and there is plenty of administrative work behind the sparkly scene. I have to work diligently to set aside free time to get inspired for new collections. The work is endless, and I could easily fall into a rabbit hole of work, so it requires a lot of discipline to prioritize, delegate, and close up shop for the day to recharge.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a foodie, so let’s start there!

Breakfast: Proper Bagel, Steadfast, Golden Hour, 5 Daughters Bakery (for their paleo donuts).
Brunch/ Lunch: Epice, Cafe Roze, Mas Tacos, Marsh House, Avo (Avocado Marg + Kimchi rolls!), Old School.
Dinner: Rolf and Daughters, City House, 5th and Taylor Patio, Adeles, Henrietta Red.
Dessert: Jenis ice cream.
Cocktails: Atta Boy, Old Glory, Mother’s Ruin.
Shopping/ Bopping around: Hero, Parish, Haven, Whites Mercantile, Any Old Iron, Cheekwood, Black Shag Vintage, Williams Gallery for some epic jewelry sightings (appt only), Lemon Laine.  And of course since this is Nashville, we have to see some live music. We would catch a show at the Basement East or the Ryman, and obviously we have to go honky tonking at Roberts.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
New Approach School for Jewelers!! So grateful for this team of instructors and people that work at this school. Blaine, Drew, and Jason are all incredibly talented and a wealth of knowledge. They have taught me so much of what I know about fine jewelry and if I ever am stumped, they are the first people I go to. They have been so supportive as I have navigated this new path and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

Website: minnielanedesigns.com/

Instagram: @minnielane

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minnielanedesigns

Image Credits
HEADSHOT– Photographer: Rachel Moore STILL LIFES + HAND IMAGES — (4x images) Art Director: Scarlett Baily Photographer: Manuel Diaz MODEL IMAGE– (1x image) Model: Abby McDonough Photographer: Darien DiCianno Art Director: Miller Bowron