brandhabit's interview with
Wendy Culpepper

Q: What inspires you to design?
A: The majority of my inspiration is found in the architecture, and nature. It's very important to keep a woman's shape and body in consideration as a constant inspiration to make jewelry that will frame her face and accentuate her best features.

Q: What one word best describes your designs?
A: Flattering - the pieces are very complimentary to the face and body when worn.

Q: If you were to dress one person, who would that be?
A: Scarlett Johansson for her timeless look & Drew Barrymore for her personality and style

Q: What charitable cause is most important to you?
A: Parkinson's Disease and Breast Cancer. With a history of both in my family, I have focused quite a bit of energy on bringing awareness to Parkinson's Disease. I was formerly the chair of an annual walk through the American Parkinson's Disease Association,

Q: What did you do before you became a designer?
A: Before starting my own line, I worked in the Product Development team at Me & Ro Jewelry assisting with the production of new samples and collections.

Q: What is your secret indulgence (fashion or otherwise)?
A: Ice Cream - its not fashion, but it is my favorite indulgence!

Wendy Culpepper was born with a flair for design and intuitive sense of style. Jewelry designed by Wendy is not just her work, it is her passion. Wendy enrolled in the University of Florida Engineering program and after a year and a half opted to enroll in an advanced drawing program at the Studio Art Centers International in Florence, Italy.

Wendy moved to New York after completing the SACI program to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology's intensive program on studio jewelry and design. At the same time, she began beading work as a hobby, designing jewelry for herself as a release from the demanding program. While traveling on three separate occasions, Wendy sold pieces of jewelry right off her neck. As a result, she decided to set up a website to explore the process of starting a jewelry website business.

In the summer of 2003, Culpepper joined the custom jeweler, Me & Ro Jewelry. Wendy was part of the product development team, managing custom requests, new collections and model management. She also assisted with price negotiation, contractor relations, production training and set-up for the Eastern-inspired jeweler that is famous for adorning Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan and Debra Messing to name a few. With the knowledge she gained working in the business, Culpepper left Me & Ro to start her own company, W. Culpepper.

The launch of her first line, the Alligator Collection, debuted in February 2005. The Fiore Collection was her second launch in August 2005. Wendy will release her seventh collection in June 2007, "The Flower of Life."
Cover of People Magazine
Rachel Ray wore the silver Genevieve necklace on suede chord on the cover of the May 14th issue of People Magazine!
Brothers & Sisters
Patricia Wettig wore our Genevieve earrings and necklace on Brothers & Sisters on ABC in January! In another scene she wore the Genevieve earrings with our Double Jane necklace!
Jennifer Beals in OK! Weekly
Actress Jennifer Beals wore our vermeil Charlotte Earrings in OK! Magazine in October 2006.
Miss USA on Project Runway
Miss USA, Tara Conner, wore W.Culpepper Heartbreaker Earrings on Project Runway, Season 3!
InStyle
The W.Culpepper vermeil Medium Fiore on Chain necklace was featured in the StyleFile section of InStyle magazine's April 2006 issue.
Redbook
W.Culpepper jewelry has been featured in Redbook Magazine in March & April 2006. W.Culpepper was most recently featured in the "Win It!" section of the May 2007 issue!
Rachel Ray
Rachel Ray has purchased a pair of our earrings and has worn them on more than one occasion during the filming of her show. Thanks, Rachel, for all of your support!
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