Business Spotlight - Stella Blue Design
Meet Angie Gianfrancesco, owner of Stella Blue Design, a jewelry studio inspired by nature’s beauty creating handmade designs that are one-of-a-kind and thoughtfully crafted. Angie will have a grand opening of her new space at 3759 N. Ravenswood Ave on Sat, 11/13 and Sun, 11/14, so be sure to stop by to shop her collection and see the beautiful space! Read our interview with Angie to learn more about how her business started and which celebrities have adored her jewelry!
Give us a small backstory of how your business started.
I fell in love with jewelry as a little girl playing in my grandmother’s jewelry tower. One of my favorite pastimes was frequenting estate sales where I would buy vintage jewelry to reimagine into new pieces. After years of making jewelry as a hobby, I started selling my line wholesale to local boutiques, and participated in a diversity of events. Stella Blue Design as a brand was officially launched in 2008, and I opened our flagship store on Southport in 2010, in the same building that I lived when I first moved to Chicago 20 years ago.
What are some of your favorite moments of running your business?
One of the best parts of what I do is the reactions I’d get after a proposal…a text saying she said “yes” and how much she loved the ring I designed, or on Christmas day a message saying how happy a client is that she got a favorite piece from her wish-list. Other than that, seeing Shawn Mendes on the VMAs rocking a few of my rings, getting contacted by Macy’s, or having a black diamond ring I made be complimented by Jessica Biel were all big moments -- but nothing more memorable than the lasting relationships with neighbors and clients who have become friends + family for life.
What is one thing that many people may not know about you or your business?
Well, the name “Stella Blue” derived from one of my favorite Grateful Dead songs. Yes, I’m a ‘Deadhead’ at heart. Many of my designs are named after songs. I always said if I had a baby girl, that would be her name, but instead I trademarked it as my jewelry line since it was my first baby.
Do you have any hobbies that you do outside of running your business?
My biggest hobbies include gardening, interior design, hunting vintage finds and collecting art. I also enjoy traveling to concerts and vending in my 1965 VW Bus.
What are some businesses you love in Lakeview or Roscoe Village?
Some of my favorite local businesses include Cafe Tola (Buffalo Chicken is my favorite) and Click Shoes & More (I can always find something I love), as well as Custom Eyes (I’m a sunglasses junkie). On a bigger box level, with a boutique feel - I shop Free People, and have been wearing the brand since I was in Junior High & Johnny Was is one of my favorite stores in the old hood…
What are the best ways people can support your business right now?
Keep it local. Although this next chapter of SBD is “by appointment,” we will always hold regular hours for ‘seasonal shopping’ surrounding the key holidays, including Christmas/Hanukkah, Valentine’s Day & Mother’s Day. Outside of the holidays, think of us throughout the year for other special occasion gifts such as anniversaries, birthdays, graduations and custom jewelry needs, by booking an appointment online at stellabluedesign.com
