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Thanks for taking the time to learn more about FENNO FASHION and the story behind our business!
Personally, I love getting to know the local businesses I support. It’s always interesting to learn what inspires the owners, how their journey began, and who’s behind the scenes making everything run smoothly.
My husband John, our 14-year-old son Myles, and I live on the westside of Cincinnati. We built our home in 2016 and loved the idea of starting with a blank slate—it’s given us endless opportunities for DIY projects. Honestly, I don't think our list of ideas will ever be finished, but we love the process of turning our house into a home that truly reflects us. Call it a hobby for the both of us, but we love all things DIY & design. 
In high school, I worked as the events coordinator at Michael’s Arts & Crafts. When we needed a jewelry instructor and couldn’t find anyone to fill the role, I decided to step up, learn the craft myself, and start teaching classes. I quickly fell in love.
It had always been my dream to attend the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD). With so many unique majors to choose from, I knew after discovering my passion for jewelry design that I wanted to study fashion and accessory design.
While attending SCAD in Savannah, I transferred to the local Michael’s store and continued teaching jewelry classes.
My husband also attended SCAD, and after we graduated, we moved to Austin, Texas for his first job. With limited opportunities in the fashion industry outside of New York City, I decided to blend my love for accessories with my entrepreneurial spirit—and that’s how my journey truly began.
In 2007, MEW FASHION was officially registered as a business—and so the journey began! After John and I got married in 2008, the name changed to FENNO FASHION.
Although I’ve been designing and creating accessories for nearly 25 years, it hasn’t always been my full-time job.
When John and I relocated from Austin to my hometown of Cincinnati, the business opened doors to some amazing opportunities. I had a radio segment on Cincinnati’s Top 40 station, Q102, and was fortunate to regularly share fashion tips and DIY projects on national television (you can check out the 12 coolest moments of my career below!).
Ultimately though, my heart has always been in running my own business. From the wonderful relationships I’ve built with customers and fellow small business owners to the joy of the creative process, designing meaningful jewelry and accessories has always felt like home.
In 2016, I took the leap and made FENNO FASHION my full-time focus—and I’ve never looked back.
In 2017 after working with a business coach, I decided that adding a mobile boutique to the business was the next big step. You can read about how I found the perfect truck and I also documented the progress as my husband John and I transformed the former plumbing truck into the perfect little store on wheels.
Fast forward to the present and I have an amazing team, couldn't be happier with my decision to add the fashion truck and enjoy working in my beautiful and inviting studio.
Just for fun, I thought I'd share the top 12 coolest moments in my career!
Trying out for the TV show Project Runway in Chicago. While I didn't obviously make the show, having the opportunity to have Tim Gunn critique my work was a pretty awesome experience in itself!
Designing & creating a wedding dress entirely from scratch. The bride gave me a few ideas of what she was looking for and from there, I sketched out a few designs, made the patterns, selected the fabric and sewed it all together. I love how the dress turned out however, it helps when you're working with a beautiful bride.
Showcasing my work at the inaugural Austin Fashion Week, where I taught jewelry design classes and had the opportunity to walk the red carpet with celebrities!
Being chosen as Fashion Woman of the Year for Cincinnati in 2009 by Cincy Chic.
Co-hosting a radio show titled "One Chic Mother to Another" on Cincinnati's hit music station, Q102 (WKRQ).
Personality Holly Morgan and I shared daily fashion trends, beauty from the standard to the obscure, DIY projects and trending topics from the perspective of two working moms. Here’s a few sound clips from when I was the fashion editor for Cincinnati’s Top 40 station, Q102 (WKRQ).
Here’s a few sound clips from when I was the fashion editor for Cincinnati’s Top 40 station, Q102 (WKRQ).
Having my accessories, writing, DIY tutorials and accessories featured in & on over 200 publications to date.
Features include: Cincy Local, Soapbox Media, AOL, Western Hills Press, The Style Sample, Austin Fashion Week, Simplemost, M/I Homes, Cincy Chic, Cincinnati.com, Fox 19, Rakesh Ram, WCPO, We Are Mortar, Don't Waste Your Money, DIY Idea Center, WKRC TV, Women of Cincy, Cox Media Group, WKRQ Q102 Cincinnati, KYGO Denver Country Radio, Jubilee, HomeDIT, DIY Cozy Home, DIY Home World, Do It And How, Indulgy, Herbs And Oils Hub, Amazing Herbs And Oils, Shelterness, ABC Action News, MyFoxAL, NBC12, WXYZ TV, WBRC Fox 6 News, Toledo News Now, WTOC Savannah, KFVS News 12, Tucson News Now, Fox19 NOW, KSHB Kanas City News, KJRH Tulsa News, Cincysavers & WCPO, Wunder Mom,
Having the opportunity to interview a lot of cool people, such as Nick & Drew Lachey from 98° & yep, even Tyra Banks!
Teaching over 200 classes about jewelry design in 4 different states. I've taught everyone from the littlest of kids to girl scout troops and ladies looking to take on a new hobby. You can find more information about the classes I offer here.
For a short period of time, I had a handbag line I titled "UREC," which stands for Up-Cycled, Recycled & Eco-Conscious. The handbags were made using recycled materials coupled with my own patterns & designs. They were so much fun to make, but oh so time-consuming!
Having had the opportunity to be a personality for Q102 & Cincysavers.
Aside from talking about DIY projects & fashion on the air every day, I also had the opportunity to partner with many local & national brands including IKEA, Michaels, Project Runway, Johnson & Johnson & more!
Being featured on the front page of our local newspaper.
I love giving back to the community that I love so much, so I was honored when our local newspaper featured the biz when I donated jewelry to Cincinnati Children's Hospital. I felt so good about my decision to give back and know it made others feel good too.
Being able to say I'm a truck driver.
Who knew a career in jewelry design would lead to driving around an old plumbing truck, right? I still try to avoid the interstate whenever possible!
All in all, it’s pretty amazing how sharing your passion and embracing life’s adventures can open the door to such exciting opportunities. More than anything, I’m incredibly grateful for the deep-rooted friendships and the amazing community that’s supported me from the very beginning.
Things haven’t always been easy.
I grew up in Cincinnati, but when I was 12, we relocated to Tallahassee, Florida after my dad was accepted into Florida State University to earn his PhD. It was a tough adjustment—I missed my life in Cincinnati deeply and struggled with depression for years.
Then, in 9th grade, I met my future husband in an advanced placement art class. I still can’t fully express how grateful I am to have met my soulmate at such a young age. It’s one of those experiences that truly makes me believe everything happens for a reason.
After high school, we moved around a bit—first to Savannah, Georgia for college, then to Austin, Texas for John’s first job.
But in the end, I truly believe I was meant to come back to Cincinnati. We bought our first home on the westside, and John began working remotely as a home decor designer - having his work showcased in stores like TJ Maxx, Homegoods, Marshalls, Target, Kohl's & Meijer to name a few.
Our son Myles was born in 2011, and that’s when my health began to decline. After 56 hours of active labor, I was diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy.
Without going into all the details, that diagnosis led to six additional surgeries and a long stretch of health challenges over the next five years—including an emergency surgery while on vacation in Belize.
But you know what? I wouldn’t change a thing. As scary and difficult as those experiences were, they shaped me into who I am today.
I gained a completely new perspective on life. Truly. Our family is stronger than ever. I’m stronger than ever. And I realized that life is too short not to spend it doing what you love. That clarity is what pushed me to grow FENNO FASHION and commit to working for myself full time.
And I’m so incredibly grateful I did.
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