Maker: Adrienne of Frolick
Adrienne is a lady of many hats. She’s got her hands in all aspects of the maker world. Meet Adrienne of Frolick, and check out her creations!
~Angie~
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Adrienne Wiley and I’m originally from Chattanooga Tennessee. I lived in Atlanta, GA for 8 years before moving to the Bay Area in 2006. We currently live in the Western Addition area of SF.
What do you make or do?
I am the designer of Frolick Jewelry, a wholesale line of contemporary jewelry with a touch of whimsy. I am also the proprietress of Covet, a small specialty chain of retail stores with two locations in SF, an outpost in Palm Springs, and one in the Rancho Mirage Ritz Carlton. Lastly I do consulting for designers that want to introduce their brands into the wholesale market.
Where can we find your creations?
My designs can be found at over 800 retailers nationwide, Covet boutiques, and the www.shopfrolick.com.
How long have you been creating and is it your full-time job?
Frolick & Covet are my full time jobs. I’ve been running Frolick for over 12 years and Covet for 8 years.
When you’re not making things, what do you do?
Since I’m both a retailer and a wholesaler, when I’m not creating jewelry designs for Frolick, I’m curating local designers and apparel lines for Covet.
What obstacles have you had to overcome to lead a creative life?
I left a Fortune 500 insurance company to start Frolick and I had to endure a lot of criticism for leaving a “stable” job for the great unknown.
Where do you find inspiration?
Travel is 100% what inspires me. When I’m traveling and experiencing new things, I literally bubble over with fresh new ideas. I always keep a notebook when I’m traveling so I can jot things down. I love traveling abroad, but even a little day trip can be just the inspiration I need to get out of a creative rut.
What’s on the horizon for you and what you do?
I’m currently in the process of joining one of the largest gift showrooms in the US. I’m looking forward to seeing how their representation will grow my business.
What would be your perfect day off?
It would start with lunch at my favorite cafe, La Mediteranee, followed by a leisurely museum visit, and finished off
What inspiring advice would you give to other creatives be they established or just starting out?
For designers just starting out, I would say make sure you don’t grow faster than you’re able to scale your business. Also, be sure you’re fully informed before launching your products into wholesale. I recently wrote a book on the subject called “Adventures in Wholesale”, which is a great resource for designers.
