Great Scott

Texas jewelry icon Kendra Scott marks 20-year milestone with very exclusive collection

2022 marks 20 years in business for Kendra Scott.

Courtesy of Kendra Scott

Texas entrepreneur, designer, Shark Tank guest shark, and philanthropist Kendra Scott is reaching a big milestone this year. After starting her jewelry business from home with just $500, the female founder marks two decades in business in 2022, and she's releasing a special collection to celebrate.

Nowadays, Austin-based Kendra Scott is a household name, and customers of every age deem her chic, affordable accessories to be essential wardrobe staples. The hashtag #KendraScott trends every year during rush season for Greek societies at colleges across the country, with 131.3 million views to date.

”I am so proud of what my team and I have been able to create over the past 20 years at Kendra Scott," she tells CultureMap via email. "It’s incredible to see an idea that started in my spare bedroom turn into a fashion brand with over 2,600 employees and 130 stores nationwide. As a company comprised primarily of women, our core values of Family, Fashion, and Philanthropy are at the forefront of everything we do and have played a huge role in our success today."

Even 20 years later, Scott stays true to those core values of family, fashion, and philanthropy, giving back to local, national, and international organizations every year. To date, she has donated over $50 million in philanthropic efforts; partnered with over 10,000 local causes through the Kendra Gives Back program, virtually and in-person; funded over 6,000+ research hours dedicated to improving treatment and prevention of metastatic breast cancer; and raised over $475,000 to support families touched by tragedy in national and local disasters.

As part of celebrating 20 years in business, Scott is releasing a limited edition 20th Anniversary Collection for the holidays.

Kendra Scott 20th Anniversary Collection The extremely limited collection launches Friday, October 14.Courtesy of Kendra Scott

With just three styles, the special collection features a Dira gold diamond 38mm watch in ivory and mother-of-pearl ($8,995); the elegant Ellen 14K yellow gold drop earrings in white diamond ($4,500); and a delicate Dira 14K gold cushion pendant necklace with yellow lab-grown diamonds ($4,000). The extremely limited collection launched Friday, October 14, and will only have 20 pieces of each style available for purchase.

"I cannot wait for the next 20 years," Scott shared, "to continue to show up for our customers, support our communities, and create beautiful, timeless jewelry for all.”

RETAIL WATCH

Texas AG Ken Paxton opens investigation into fast-fashion giant Shein

Photo courtesy of SHEIN

Shein is now under investigation from the Texas Attorney General.

Critics of fast fashion have found a strange bedfellow in Ken Paxton. The Texas Attorney General announced December 1 he would investigate online retailer Shein for alleged unethical labor practices and unsafe consumer products.

According to a release from Paxton’s office, the inquiry aims to find out if Shein’s “supply chain and manufacturing practices violate Texas law by using toxic or hazardous materials, misleading consumers about product safety, and misleading consumers about ethical sourcing.” The probe will also look into the corporation’s data collection and privacy practices.

In a statement, Paxton put a partisan spin on the investigation.

“Safe, non-toxic material and products are another key ingredient to [Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s] Make America Healthy Again movement,” said Paxton in the release. “Any company that cuts corners on labor standards or product safety, especially those operating in foreign nations like China, will be held accountable.”

Paxton’s move unexpectedly aligns the AG with environmental watchdogs. Nonprofit Yale Climate Connections has long sounded the alarm about the Singapore-based e-tailer, calling it one of the world’s biggest polluters. Paxton has long railed against climate change regulations and sued the Biden administration several times to block emissions rules.

The investigation is part of a larger Republican crackdown on Chinese consumer products. On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are debating new restrictions on Shenzhen-based aerial drone maker DJI, and Senator Tom Cotton has called for investigations of “Communist Chinese” companies Shein and Temu. The September Texas vape ban specifically banned disposable e-cigarettes manufactured in the country.

In a statement emailed to multiple media outlets, Shein said it would comply with Paxton’s investigation.

“Shein takes these concerns seriously and is fully committed to cooperating,” a spokesperson said. “Our mission — to provide affordable, fashionable products to customers around the world — is underpinned by a dedication to safety, compliance, and respect for human rights.”

The controversy will likely have little effect on Shein’s popularity with Zoomers. The company snagged an estimated $38 billion in sales in 2024 and has an average of 24.7 million active app users each month.

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