Today we’d like to introduce you to Billie Hilliard.
Hi Billie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
From a young girl growing up in Houston, I was always creating things – art, jewelry, writing songs and designing clothes. My maternal grandmother, Jimmie Helena Hilliard gifted me with my first sewing machine at the age of seven. She was a huge influence due to her nurturing way of calling out my talents. I loved anything associated with design and fashion so by the time I was in high school, I was modeling for Nieman Marcus, United Colors of Benetton, and international clothing designer, Selven Okeef Jarmon. After graduating high school, I left for college to study Fine Arts, took a break and returned to ultimately earn my Business degree. While continuing to model in Houston, I undertook an apprenticeship with designer Jarmon. Even though I love modeling, my passion has always been creating beautiful things with the work of my hands.
In 2007, I decided to launch a jewelry line consisting primarily of bead and wirework. My pieces were carried in several boutiques in Texas (Melodrama Boutique, Lot 8) and a few states throughout the U.S. They were also sought after and worn by an array of celebrities including my fellow 3rd Ward, Houston Texas sister, Beyoncé, actresses Tracee Ellis Ross, Anna Camp, Robin Givens and the cast members of some of television’s most popular shows. Although I had gained a bit of exposure, I longed to push my craft to greater levels. So, after a serendipitous encounter at The Goat Farm Arts Center with British Blacksmith, Mark J. Hopper (History Channel: Forged In Fire Champion) a year after I had moved to Atlanta, my creative prayers were answered. I began studying metalsmithing, casting, and other traditional silversmithing techniques under Hopper. I knew after our 1st encounter that the trajectory of my life had shifted perfectly into place. The short story is, I met him on Thursday, came back on Monday and never left! I spent three years honing my skills and soaking up all the knowledge I could. My main focus was to create quality handcrafted heirloom jewelry. I envisioned the pieces being considered “Life Accessories”. I have always appreciated the accessories of the past and so I wanted to bring that element back. Instead of running to the store for a hair clip, I wanted to design beautiful bronze and sterling silver hairpins with decorative cast accents you can keep forever. I’m a tea lover so it made both environmental and aesthetic sense to forge out and cast a set of teaspoons to have for everyday use instead of plastic ones to be thrown away. I wanted every piece to be designed to do life with its owner and then be passed down to do life with the next. There’s something to be said about an accessory that has history, purpose and a story.
Learning how to cast split me right open. It was particularly monumental to me as I had been 1st introduced to the ancient method of Lost Wax Casting by my older sister, Alesha who is a visual artist. She wrote her dissertation on the casting method being utilized by Ethiopian monks to make Coptic Crosses for the monasteries to receive prayers. Once I learned casting dated back to ancient Egypt, Greece and Ethiopia and has been used for centuries to create some of the great sculptures and works of art we treasure and love, I knew I had to one day create pieces using this method. I’ve been casting for over ten years now and it has made for a beautiful creative and collaborative journey. Carving wax and sculpting pieces is a whole journey in itself. I’ve had to push past the fear of not knowing how to approach a design and trust the process to sharpen my skills. It amazes me how much I am able to apply the principles and processes of casting to life. Anything worthy of lasting has a set process assigned to it. If you skip steps or rush, you will ultimately compromise what you were working so hard to create or manifest. You must have a solid foundation in anything for it to stand the test of time.
Being a jeweler/metalsmith has afforded me many opportunities. I have had the pleasure of collaborating on product development projects with other designers and brands as well as bringing my client’s ideas to life on custom projects. Designing jewelry has also brought me back to my roots in fashion where I’ve had the opportunity to style and creative direct various editorial shoots, which landed me the position of Fashion Director for Oh Brides Magazine. My jewelry has been featured in editorials in Eide Magazine (U.S.), Oh Brides Magazine (US), Essence Magazine (U.S.), Timodelle Magazine (Paris, France), Flawless Magazine (Dublin, Ireland) and The AspireTV Network Marketplace. I also have current work showing in Neema Fine Art Gallery in Charleston, SC and was honored by an invite to show this past summer for the annual Swan Coach House Gallery:Summer Invitational Show.
I continue to design in my studio loft at the Goat Farm Arts Center in Atlanta, GA.
A few years ago I also launched a boutique branding and marketing firm, Billie Hilliard Consultants to assist companies, brands and entrepreneurs with the tools and creative direction needed to spearhead them forward.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a completely smooth ride but such is life. Business has its ups and downs. In the beginning, I confused business success with how many celebrities were wearing my pieces or how many followers I had on social media. Now I know that it’s more about the quality and consistency of my clientele and not the numbers. You can have 10,000 followers but if they are not engaging with you and experiencing your product then you are just wasting valuable time, money and energy. As a new entrepreneur, not having the budget to market my brand as I envisioned was a struggle. I’m a woman of faith so when I’m faced with situations that are outside of my control, I do all that I can do and then I leave the rest for God to handle. When it came to presenting a website, product photos, editorial content, website copy, one sheets, campaigns for collections and maintaining a social media presence it was all on me. I rolled up my sleeves and taught myself. There were many late nights, tears and praying for the tenacity and will power to push through. Now I have a boutique branding & marketing agency where I assist companies, brands and entrepreneurs with taking their visions to the next level! God does a masterful job at taking our greatest fears/weaknesses and using them to catapult us to our best selves.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I have two companies, Billie Hilliard jewelry and BIllie Hilliard Consultants.
Billie Hilliard:Lifestyle Accessories is my jewelry/accessories brand which specializes in custom heirloom jewelry, lifestyle accessories and wearable art pieces.
BHC Consultants is the brand management consulting firm that birthed from companies and small businesses seeking assistance with branding and social media presence.
I am most proud that the Billie Hilliard brand has been consistent. The mission and vision has always stayed intact even when it wasn’t popular or trendy to not follow the trend. Billie Hilliard is a timeless, classic brand and is here to stay.
How do you think about happiness?
Happiness for me is spending time and space in beautiful experiences. Traveling, flowing in an idea, sharing a delicious classic French wine while discussing design ideas and politics with my beau, Kesha. Happiness is watching my two girls grow into themselves, watching other people win, co-creating with my sister on our capsule collection releasing next Spring. Showering my mother with love and surprise visits and just being at peace with my life and where it’s brought me thus far. I’m truly blessed.
Contact Info:
- Email: billie@billiehilliard.com
- Website: BillieHilliard.com
- Instagram: Billie_Hilliard
Image Credits
Photo Credits Photo: Shot by Billie-Swan Coach House Gallery:Summer Invitational Photographer: Jamie Hopper (Male Model: Gary Modlish) Photo: Shot by Billie (Ahjah Cuff) Photo: Shot by Billie Photo: Shot by Billie (Lilly Hair Brooch) Photo: Shot by Billie (Travis Warp Ring) Flawless Magazine Dublin, Ireland Photographer: Claudia McDade Photo: Shot by Billie (Camila Collarbone Necklace) Photo: Shot by Billie (Studio Shot) Photo: Shot by Billie (Jean Jacket with Jewelry) Photo: Shot by Billie (Wide Studio Shot) Eidi Magazine: Atlanta, GA (Jimmie Gorget and Jimmie Cuff Editorial) Photo: Shot by Billie (Billie Casting)
