BIANCA BARTLEY
Bianca Bartley is the creator of the dynamic and exquisite jewellery line ‘Peace-is of Bianca’.
After achieving her degree in Psychology from the University of the West Indies (Mona) in 2007, Bianca, inspired by reactions to her self-made jewellery, launched her line in 2008 to cater to a market which longed for unique, quality pieces made by a local designer. She has taught herself the craft, and explores natural materials and processes to refine her pieces.
Peace-is of Bianca is a lifestyle brand that seeks to leverage their range of products to achieve a positive social, cultural and environmental impact by approaching the design and production of the brand’s jewellery, from a holistic point. As subtly suggested by the brand name- ‘Peace-is’, also a play on the word ‘Pieces’- each work of He(ART) is imbued with passion and tells a story through the names and inspiration behind the symbolic collections created. This is further incensed by the raw material components and their properties, carefully hand selected by the designer in the process.
Bianca Bartley can be best described as ‘enlightened’ - ‘defying conventionality’ as her tag promotes - with her prolific expressions of individuality. Peace-Is of Bianca is where abstract meets organic, giving birth to a fusion of precious metals (working in platinum, solid gold, sterling silver and gold filled intertwined with semi-precious metals and stones, and a variety of raw materials. Her line is very much in the ethos of “living green”, inspired by nature and her moods.
Bianca’s work has been featured in many local and regional publications, including Skywriting’s Magazine, several issues of Buzzz Caribbean Magazine, The Jamaica Observer and Style Observer as well as The Daily Gleaner, and The Gleaners Flair Magazine.
In 2009, she designed and executed Jamaican-inspired custom Peace-is for the Jamaica Festival Queen competition, as part of the Independence Festivities.
In 2010, she executed the Observer Style Awards with renowned artists Trevor Figueroa and Margaret McGhie.
Her line was also donned by Yendi Phillips in 2010, as part of her official wardrobe for the Miss Universe competition in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In December 2010, she was invited to be one of the few featured artists at Scotiabank Foundation’s “A Celebration of Art” evening, which hosted silent art auctions in aid of Children with Scoliosis.
June 2011 saw the launch of her most exquisite collection to date, ‘Journey Into the Sun’ which was inspired by the legendary Jazz singer, Nina Simone. By July she was one of the elite entrepreneurs selected to participate in the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship. Bianca has designed Peace-is for the Virgin Founder and Philanthropist after whom the centre is named Sir Richard Branson, showing alongside him at the launch of his last book ‘Screw Business As Usual’ In New York City the same November.
By January 2012 She was named by Novia McDonald Whyte Lifestyle Editor-in-Chief at The Jamaica Observer- as ‘One To Watch for 2012’ alongside 19 other Jamaicans including Usain Bolt and Several Heads Of Government in the popular publication ‘Style Observer’.
In February 2012, she represented Jamaica as one of the 9 women selected across the 60 member countries making up the Commonwealth at Spring Fair International, Birmingham UK at their prestigious Jewellery Show where the line was exhibited.
The line was sought after by the ANISA production team of International Television Reality Series- America’s next Top Model, brainchild of iconic super model Tyra Banks; Contestants vied for over USD$3,000 worth of jewellery courtesy of Peace-is of Bianca, approached by ANISA for the overall appeal and quality of the work.
January 2013 began on a high note as once again Peace-is of Bianca was highlighted by Fashion Editor & Chief Novia McDonald Whyte as one of Jamaica’s local brands ‘Trending for 2013’.
In September she pre-released her lifestyle collection of coffee tables, serving trays and chic wall art- entitled ‘OM’ to be launched for Christmas and received the prestigious Style Observer Award from the Jamaica Style Observer for ‘Jewellery Designer of the Year 2012-2013’.
The brand has continuously grown and evolved over the years, making continuous stride toward excellence: Today, Peace-is of Bianca has a total of four older, experienced artisans under permanent employ or contract and has also continued to invest in new techniques and processes which aid in increasing our production efficiency.