Meath Style Awards: Shortlist for Best in Accessories

The home of affordable, personal and unique jewellery

Far Fetched Accessories

Tell us about your business and team

Far Fetched Accessories is an online jewellery and fashion accessories store that prides itself on offering high quality, unique and bespoke products at affordable prices. As the home of Irish Designed jewellery and Stackers Jewellery Boxes, it offers a personalising embossing service on a selection of accessories and gifts. The mission for Far Fetched Accessories is for it to be the home of affordable, personal and unique jewellery and accessories and the "go to" for the customer who wants something unique.

Describe the best thing about your service

The best thing about Far Fetched Accessories is that it stocks unique gift ideas at affordable prices. Tara Faulkner launched her own designs back in 2020 - yes in the middle of a pandemic and since then she now has two very successful Irish designed collections, the Celestial Collection, inspired by the Sun, Moon and Stars and Brí Collection, the Irish for ‘meaning,’ so this collection represents symbols of meaning, power and protection. These unique pieces of jewellery are what makes Far Fetched Accessories stand out.

What's the best business advice you've ever been given?

I have received many little nuggets of advice over the years, the ones that I keep remembering are: "It's always worth the risk. What's the worst that can happen, they say no….. Move on and wait your turn to ask again.”

The other is: “Stay in your own lane, be yourself, everyone else is taken.” I apply this in my everyday life and even as a mother of a 14-year-old daughter. I find it’s an important message.

What does the future hold for your business?

This year I am 10 years in business and the future looks bright for Far Fetched Accessories. I aim to continue to expand and develop on our products and I will continue to design new pieces in my jewellery collections. I also hope to expand our current stockists outside of Meath.

Delivering the perfect accessories for those special occasions

HanaLee Studios

Tell us about your business and team

At HanaLee Studios, we specialise in making memories. Owner Carol Curtis loves adventures and making memories with her loved ones and to start a business helping others to make their memories has been her calling. HanaLee Studios is a family business based in Slane – where everyone from her retired parents to her children help make products and run the business on a daily basis, sometimes seven days a week. HanaLee Studios make personalised gifts and accessories for weddings and new babies and there are over 200 products in the busy online store which it ships both within Ireland and internationally.

Describe the best thing about your service

Our products are personal and special says Carol, which makes them such thoughtful gifts to give and accessories to complement special occasions. The attention to detail on each order as well as my passion for excellent customer service has kept our customers coming back again and again. We have worked with thousands of customers helping them with the perfect accessories for their special occasions. While we have many competitors in this market space, we strive to make our high-quality products unique for our customers with a personalised touch. Many of our customers will return with photos or feedback from their special day.

What's the best business advice you've ever been given?

Mistakes are not failures but the key to success – wise words from my Dad when things go wrong in the studio and he bears the brunt of ranting phonecalls! I have learned from the countless mistakes I have made down through the years and used these learnings to grow my business.

What does the future hold for your business?

We are currently working on an exciting new range of Irish-themed products to complement the products we already have. These will be suitable for retail within Ireland and export internationally. I am incredibly excited about seeing them come to life and see where this will take HanaLee.

Turning heads with beautiful, bespoke, handmade creations

Saraden Designs Millinery Atelier

Tell us about your business and team

Sarah O’Rourke is the owner and Head Designer of Saraden Designs Millinery Atelier. She has created a Slow Fashion Sustainable Millinery brand with Saraden Designs with everything - including fabrics – being handmade in Ashbourne. No production is outsourced and it is all traceable back to Sarah.

Sarah began Saraden Designs back in 2016 with millinery designs and has now expanded her collections to include pieces for brides, bridal parties, communions and special occasions. Her pieces can be found on her online store, in Marion Cuddy Irish Designers Emporium in Powerscourt Townhouse and in Curated in Kildare Village.

Describe the best thing about your service

Saraden Designs supports the idea of creating, designing and buying pieces for quality and longevity. Every piece Sarah creates is bespoke and handmade in Ireland.

Sarah says: “I offer readymade pieces and custom-made pieces. I offer free online consultations for all my clients and now I offer the rent-a-piece service. Renting allows access to a variety of high-end designs at a fraction of the retail price throughout the year, instead of investing in one piece. With Saraden Designs, wearers are assured everything is Irish made and production is traceable back to myself.

What's the best business advice you've ever been given?

The best advice I’ve been given is to “just do it, if you fail then at least you can say you have tried but if you succeed imagine the opportunities that can open up to you.” I can admit I don’t always get it right, but there is no ‘how to’ book. It is a learning curve and you learn from mistakes.

What does the future hold for your business?

I have begun to rent out pieces which fits our sustainable ethos. Anyone can visit the website, select a date and hat they wish to rent and if it is available, it is shipped to them and a return label is included in the box to make it a seamless return.

- The 2024 Meath Style Awards in association with Specsavers take place in the Headfort Arms Hotel this Friday (June 7th)