Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenesy Claire
Hi Jenesy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up on a small island in the Pacific Northwest, I found inspiration in my surroundings and the abundant botanicals and flora. I attended Bard College and graduated with a metal sculpture degree. Post college the realities of life led me down a different career path. One of my senior advisors suggested a job opening as a property manager for a prominent artist in the area. This somewhat alternate career would eventually bring me back to art and to where I am today. Later on, I had the opportunity to manage a hotel in the Caribbean, help open a restaurant in NYC, and in 2018 while living overseas in Singapore I founded the children’s swimwear & lifestyle brand King of Redonda.
My diverse background allowed me to learn everything from factory tech sheets, to branding and wholesale agreements. The next several years were truly a crash course in developing a business on my own. I ended up writing and illustrating a children’s book, signing a three installment deal, and selling broadly in department stores – and then Covid hit. My husband and I unexpectedly had to repatriate, and move my whole business back to the states. Silver lining was we welcomes a baby in 2021, so everything happily took an backseat to being a mom! Unfortunately that was the beginning of severe economic headwinds, and I made the difficult decision to shut the business in 2024.
Deep in my heart I knew that I wasn’t finished designing and illustrating, so I returned to the core of what I love – painting and exploring visual concepts. Friends began to ask for my designs and patterns in fabrics and homewares, in bedrooms, nurseries and playrooms. Piper and Fox Designs was born out of my passion for design, and has evolved continuously to meet the demand of consumers.
I believe the twinkle-toed spirit of my childhood comes through in my illustrations and designs with bright colors and whimsical images. Remaining creative has always been my driving force, and being able to create beautiful environments for the next generation of chic and unique has been a literal dream come true.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I can’t imagine anyone setting out to start a business or operating as an entrepreneur has had a smooth road. In a way, I believe such challenges acts as a forcing function for critical improvement and learning. Besides Covid, I think the most challenging part for me has been dealing positively with rejection. It’s difficult to put your heart and soul into something you believe in and have others not react the same way. However, I can look backward and realize these perceived failures have helped me to develop a ‘thick skin’, and apply constructive criticism to future projects. Just because you love something does not mean partners or consumers will. Finding a balance between work that you are happy with and that others will enjoy is a key to sustainable success.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I see myself as an illustrator first, who designs beautiful rooms and spaces. I know when I am happiest it shows in my work and finished product, so maintaining joy is a key factor throughout my work and every design project or commission. I believe what sets me apart is I have had to do every aspect of building a company multiple times, and wear every hat at the same time. I’m still a very tactile creative that starts on paper and moves to digital in order to produce on various products, and my knowledge of the process from all aspects has by far been the biggest factor in being successful. I love special commission pieces that require a collaboration with the client, it always ends up with such a unique end product.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
As I mentioned I grew up on a very small island in the Pacific Northwest, called Lopez. We rarely wore shoes, rode in the back of trucks and played all day in the forest and on beaches. It was a very innocent and wild childhood that allowed me to simply imagine and play, which I believe has influenced how I move through this crazy real world…
I was very athletic and still am. I played volleyball all through college and beyond, which is where I learned team dynamics and punctuality. I held jobs starting at a very young age and was always very driven. Art was my true passion from early on, I knew it was something that I would find joy from during any moment of life.
Pricing:
- Commissions are extremely varying in pricing, but design projects are $1,000/ room
Contact Info:
- Website: www.piperandfoxdesigns.com
- Instagram: @piperandfoxdesigns
