A sea of pink had washed through Washington, flooding towards the National Mall. Over 500,000 attendees made up that sea, with people of all ages, genders, races, and sexual orientations joined in unison towards the protection of women’s rights and changing the divisive rhetoric surrounding gender equality. New conversations about gender equality, reproductive rights and LGBTQIA+ rights, and resistance emerged after the 2017 Women’s March on Washington. However, the march did more than change the larger scope of the conversation. It changed the protesters and inspired them, and among that sea of 500,000 attendees whose lives were changed that day was Jane Winchester Paradis.
At the time, Jane was a forty-five-year-old mother of five, working as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Lilly Pulitzer. Jane had had a long career in the fashion industry, working for top brands like Calvin Klein and Barneys before moving to Lilly Pulitzer. During her time in fashion, she launched accessories for Lilly Pulitzer, designed her own tote bag which was sold at Barneys and other department stores across the nation, and was a designer for bags, jewelry, and footwear at Lilly. After twelve years at Lilly Pulitzer, Jane felt the desire to make a change in her career, to build something entirely new, all by herself. During this time, she heard that the Women’s March would be taking place in Washington, D.C. As soon she heard, she booked a hotel room, and took her kids to Washington. She knew she wanted to experience this event and wanted her children by her side.
As Jane looked out at this sea of pink, she felt inspired by the energy and courage around her. In that moment, Jane knew that this change in her career would be to start her own business and create something that she was passionate about.
“I remember looking out the window and thinking, I am starting this company, and the girls are going to see me do it. That was a very pivotal moment for me because I wanted to lead by example. I wanted to show my children that a 45-year-old women could not only be successful at a brand like Lilly Pulitzer but also start from scratch and build something from nothing.”
Jane knew she wanted her business to be jewelry because of the meaning it invokes in people. Jewelry is sentimental and facilitates conversation. She wanted to produce a product that would connect people on a deeper level, something that would bring people together or mark a monumental occasion. Keeping these values in mind, Jane brought them to life through the style of coin jewelry. Attracted to the concept of having two sides of a charm, Jane made coin jewelry the basis of her brand. This gave her the ability to design on both sides of a charm, providing more opportunities for connection and meaning. She first developed a word that would draw people in that they identified with or saw in their life, which would go on one side of the coin. Each word was then accompanied by a design, which the other side of the coin would bear. The first few coins Jane created were “Protect”, “Love”, “Forever”, “Courage”, “Peace”, and “Lucky.” To add to the sentimental value of the pieces, Jane created a description for each word on a card that would accompany the jewelry. When a customer reads the card, they identify with the intention, feeling an emotional connection to its description.
And thus, Jane Win Jewelry was born.
“I wanted to show my children that a 45-year-old women could not only be successful at a brand like Lilly Pulitzer but also start from scratch and build something from nothing.”
At the heart of what makes Jane Win Jewelry so special to Jane is the ability to see the impact that her jewelry has on the people who wear it, and the way that a single word can evoke different meanings for different people. “I want everyone to make it their own”, says Jane when talking about her pieces. “We’ve had women who’ve gone through cancer treatments who wear the “Protect” coin, we’ve had women who gift the “Forever” coin to their daughters who are going off to college, so they have something physical to hold onto when they’re away. To me, the individual connection is not that everyone must have this pair of sneakers, or everyone must wear this new trend. It’s about connecting with something and it’s very individual…The individual connection and expression of how you wear it is what makes Jane Win so special. We’re not trying to dictate how you wear it. It should be a part of your story, not the only story.”
Jane’s attention to her customers and their needs has driven the success of Jane Win Jewelry. The creation of coins in response to current events and emotions in the world has provided a sense of comfort to people in times of struggle and uncertainty. For example, Jane launched several new coins during and in the aftermath of Covid-19. The first of this set was “Protect”, which was then followed by “Hope” and “Faith.” During this time, these coins were purchased to send care and protection to loved ones who may have experienced hardships during the pandemic. While their initial conception had been during Covid-19, these coins continued to thrive after the pandemic because of their versatility, with “Hope” officially being Jane Win Jewelry’s best seller. “Hope is always the best seller. I think our customers deep down are optimists and have hope in a very positive way. It actually gives me hope,” says Jane.
Though with any new business launch comes its challenges. “Being an entrepreneur, especially in those first few years, is a mental game. You certainly need the plan, but you also need to be very strong…When you first start a business, you get told ‘no’ all the time, and I had to get used to that.”
Jane’s leadership continues to be motivated by her dedication to transparency throughout her work and by confronting the challenges she faces with honesty and grace.
“Transparency has been the key to my leadership. I have tried to be transparent every step of the way when building this company, which has followed through to how I am as a mom. I am very transparent with my kids and my coworkers. I go on Instagram and talk about Jane Win Jewelry, but I also talk about the daily operations to running the business, and the not so glamorous parts. I think this has helped to inspire other women to do the same in their work… Over time, it’s helped me to learn more about business but also how to be confident in my own career.”
Today, Jane Win Jewelry employs eight passionate individuals dedicated to Jane’s mission, and currently has eleven amulets as a part of their connection, several of which have been worn by notable celebrities and influential figures such as Dr. Jill Biden, Jennifer Hudson, Caitlin Collins, and Jenna Bush. Despite these accomplishments, the most rewarding aspect of Jane’s work is that she gets to do what she loves with her kids. More importantly, she gets to share what she loves to do with the world, inspiring her daughters, and young women everywhere that you can do anything you set your mind to with a thoughtful business plan and a lot of courage.