A Pottstown fine jeweler will showcase to some of the world’s biggest celebrities this September at an event ahead of the Emmy awards, a move she hopes will catapult her business to new heights.
Sincerely Ginger Jewelry will be a sponsor at The Retreat, a two-day event immediately prior to the Emmys which recognize excellence in the television industry. Founded by Ginger Herbein, the brand was invited by industry veteran Heather R. Holliday after the creative consulting firm CEO and Hollywood producer came across Herbein's work.
Herbein began her eponymous jewelry company in 2014 but has put considerable effort into expanding it over the past five years. Sincerely Ginger Jewelry offers a selection of pieces such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings, including for bridal, in addition to custom and one-of-a-kind creations. Made with ethically sourced, conflict-free precious and semi-precious gemstones and recycled gold, pieces range from $259 for a 14-karat gold gemstone stacking ring to more than $8,000 for a diamond and topaz ring in 14-karat gold.
Her pieces, she said, are a combination of dainty and refined. “They're understated, but at the same time they stand out on their own,” Herbein said.
Herbein uses unique stones and settings, such as salt-and-pepper diamonds, as a way to set herself apart from other brands. “I feel like a piece of jewelry should be personal,” she said. “I like the idea of creating a piece that fits a person’s personality.”
The idea for Sincerely Ginger Jewelry has roots in Herbein's childhood. Growing up, she was fascinated by her grandmother’s jewelry box, which held vintage items that caught her eye.
“[They were] just really interesting pieces that I feel are more complex than what you see today and I just always wondered, how do they make jewelry?” Herbein recalled.
Her fascination with jewelry led to her receiving a child’s jewelry making kit from which she created her own pieces. Once made, she would display them in arrangements in what she referred to as Ginger’s Boutique.
The concept regained steam again in 2014, years after Herbein's fascination with jewelry first cropped up. The moniker didn’t remain and the jewelry became much more elevated, but it drew on that same passion. A teacher in Philadelphia, when Herbein suffered an injury on the job and left for a year-long recovery, the idea of her own jewelry brand bubbled to the surface again.
During that time, she came across Jennifer Meyer, the jewelry designer and ex-wife of actor Tobey Maguire. Intrigued, Herbein soon discovered that Meyer hadn’t gone to school for jewelry design and that many other designers of that caliber hadn't either.
“It just for some reason all of a sudden kind of struck me,” she recalled. “And then I remembered the past, Ginger’s Boutique, and that came together like this is something I should maybe try.”
Not having any formal design training, Herbein took a course at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she learned the basics. She began working with silver and about two years later, in 2016, began selling her pieces online. The business took a hiatus but when she was left an inheritance from her grandmother and an aunt, Herbein switched gears and began designing in gold around 2018, the metal she’s worked primarily with ever since.
The business has been built up slowly and the pandemic and subsequent economic headwinds have slowed progress as consumers favored necessities over luxury purchases.
Herbein hopes being at The Retreat will help shift the tides by positioning her in front of an entirely new audience. The two-day party is slated to take place Sept. 16 and 17 ahead of the Emmys on Sept. 18, though the dates may move based on the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. The Retreat is planned to be held at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. All of this year’s Emmy presenters and nominees – which includes Jeff Bridges, Kieran Culkin, Melanie Lynskey, Elisabeth Moss, Keri Russell, Jason Sudeikis and Philadelphia native Quinta Brunson – are invited to attend such pre-awards events. The party benefits Project Green, an environmental education nonprofit that seeks to benefit underserved youth by connecting them to nature.
In addition to Hollywood A-listers, a number of sports industry professionals are also expected to be in attendance.
During the event, celebrities and celebrity stylists can browse Herbein's designs, with the option to purchase pieces outright or borrow them to wear on the red carpet, something that could be a game changer for a small brand.
Herbein was tapped to be part of this year’s Retreat by Holliday, CEO of Georgia-based creative consulting, financial services and communications firm Muse Holliday Inc. Holliday has worked on a number of Hollywood productions including “The Net,” “ER,” and “Thirteen Days,” as well as in advertising with big name clients like the Coca-Cola Co., General Motors, McDonald’s and Porsche. She discovered Herbein through a juried show the jeweler had previously participated in.
A predominately made-to-order brand with a focus on direct-to-consumer sales, Herbein is looking to increase her custom creations in addition to branching into custom heirloom redesigns. Engagement rings, she said, are currently what garner the most traction on her website.
Her hope is to one day make Sincerely Ginger Jewelry her full-time role, something The Retreat may help facilitate. For now, she continues to juggle the business with other responsibilities, including as a personal care assistant to students in the Great Valley School District.
