Pittsburgh’s Renee Piatt debuts jewelry designs for Doncaster
A few years ago, Renee Piatt found herself at a crossroads. She dabbled in glass blowing and photography and took a floral design class at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
“I loved it all. I just didn’t have this creative outlet,” she says. “I was home with kids, and I sort of felt like I was losing myself, losing my individuality.”
Inspired by accounts she followed on Instagram, plus some knowledge of metalsmithing, she gave jewelry making a try, and it seemed to click. In particular, she discovered she has a knack for combining classic stones with ontrend styles. (Think sparkling druzy statement cuffs or a versatile layering necklace with black spinel set in a spiked pendant.)
Since 2013, she has turned this hobby into her own jewelry line, the Renee Piatt Collection. Last year, she was tapped to be the jewelry designer for Doncaster, a luxury women’s brand with design studios in New York City that’s sold through stylists across the country. Her first pieces for the company were released this spring, including some limited edition, online-only items at Doncaster.com. She has designed several accessories for the fall 2017 collection and already is at work on creations for winter.
“She’s come up with some amazing pieces,” says Doncaster CEO Elaine Rudisill, adding that some of Ms. Piatt’s latest designs have been “in high demand.” “We’ve actually expanded what we’re getting from her in the fall. I like what she’s doing, our stylists like what she’s doing, and our customers like what she’s doing.”
Grateful for the opportunity, Ms. Piatt chalks it up to being at the right place at the right time. A local Doncaster district manager had been elevated to serve as a liaison between the sales and design teams. At some of those meetings, she wore pieces from Ms. Piatt’s collections, and people took notice. It helped, too, that Ms. Piatt had been a Doncaster stylist for 12 years, so she understood well the brand’s aesthetic and target shopper.