Moonrise Jewelry Designer Meredith Restein began her journey as an entrepreneur at the age of eight in her father's drugstore, selling “sculptures” made from seashells she collected near her home on Virginia's Eastern Shore. After studying abroad in Chile and graduating from Tulane University with degrees in Spanish and Anthropology, Meredith returned to her roots on Cherrystone Inlet near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. There, beside the same shores where six generations of her family had walked, Meredith envisioned a way to combine her interests and talents into a modern cottage industry that could bring new opportunities to her rural community.
A self-taught designer, Meredith grew Moonrise Jewelry from the ground up– continually refining her style, providing personal service to her customers, and aspiring to make a positive impact in her local community and beyond. Since the business's inception in 2002, she has trained domestic violence victims, students, artists, and friends to assist with her cottage industry. Meredith worked with suppliers worldwide to source eco-friendly components like recycled silver and fair trade gems, and has donated generously to local and national charities using her jewelry as a fundraising tool. Moonrise Jewelry's unique blend of style and substance soon caught the eye of national media like NBC’s Today Show, TLC's What Not to Wear, Lucky magazine, Coastal Living, In Store magazine, and Meryl Streep’s Green Guide.
Moonrise Jewelry’s signature style has evolved into a colorful brand of wearable art inspired by Meredith’s love of the world's most beautiful coasts, including the one she calls home. Committed to providing her customers with exceptional designs they won't find anywhere else, Meredith continues to seek out innovative new elements for her line, including Real Orchid Blossoms preserved in resin and "Reel" Fish Leather made from repurposed fish skins. What hasn’t changed is her dedication to handcrafting exquisite “jewelry with heart” that reflects the inner and outer beauty of the women who wear it. As Moonrise Jewelry gains national recognition, each piece is still made by hand in a quiet studio located in a historic inn and customs house two centuries old. While Meredith works to grow the family business, her daughter now collects seashells outside along bountiful Cherrystone Inlet, finding her own inspiration on the same shores that her mother and six generations before her walked as a child.
