Hey 👋 I'm Holly - owner and creator of Ilex Home! With the launch of my website, I thought it was a good idea to introduce you to myself and the business.
I started working on Ilex Home (formerly known as Ilex Studios Co.) in the summer of 2020. I won't say that I've always dreamed of being my own boss, because that's not true. I didn't really know what I wanted to do; I was always taking on different jobs, trying to figure out what would work for me. In 2020, I was working in the mental health field; I have a degree in Psychology, so this was the obvious choice once I decided that I needed to "settle down" in terms of my career - to stop bouncing between this and that, to just pick something and stick with it. In my free time, I had started doing a little bit of work for my mum, who owned an online business called OrgonChi, selling handcrafted resin and crystal jewellery. This sparked a creativity in me that I hadn't really explored since school, and I started picking up other creative hobbies. I began making plant hangers for my friends with a craft kit that I had bought online; I loved the mindfulness of it, paying close attention to each individual knot, knowing that they would all come together to create something beautiful. I couldn't get enough, and decided to start selling them on Etsy. From there, I realised that I could create my own employment, while also indulging my creative side.
In the summer of 2022, I had developed a small range of products and started trading at artisan markets, selling macramé plant hangers, lanyards, keyrings, pride rainbows and some of the crystal pendants that I was making with my mum. Ilex started to evolve, and I discovered Jesmonite - a more eco-friendly version of resin. I have always prioritised sustainability in my work, ensuring that I was always using recycled cotton cord, buying materials from other small businesses and being mindful in my practises, so Jesmonite fit in well with the direction that I was heading in. I was able to apply some of the skills I'd learned in resin work to this practise, and started making Jesmonite homeware. Since then, this has become the main focus of my business.
Now, I am working on Ilex and OrgonChi full time from my art studio in Slaithwaite, a town just north of the Peak District. Over the last few years, I have gained such a sense of fulfilment from my work, something that I never felt in other jobs. My brand has evolved into a celebration of bold and colourful decoration, pieces that reflect individual style and personality - none of that millennial grey bullsh*t. I believe that your home should be your sanctuary, a place that truly feels like your own and reflects who you, somewhere to celebrate yourself. In my work, I hope to create pieces that feel like a little piece of you - pieces to adorn your home to make it that much more special to you. It fills me with joy to see the reaction of customers at markets who find a piece that speaks to them, and to read online reviews from happy customers.
I hope that you find something here that feels special to you, or a precious gift for a loved one. I also welcome enquiries about custom orders, if you haven't managed to find your preferred style or colourway.