Our Story

In 2012 I made my first pair of earrings from a blouse belonging to my beloved late grandmother. After this first piece came many more, and what started as a hobby was fully registered as Fortyfour Miles in 2017, when it became a full time career for me. Fortyfour Miles values family and community, and is currently operated from my home.  I built my own studio in the former bedroom of the same grandmother whose blouse was the origin of my first piece of jewellery. The name of the business pays homage to the Black River, which runs for 44 miles before emptying into the Caribbean sea in my home town Black River.

When I started jewellery-making, I had no idea of the part it had played in the history of my family. I later learnt that my great great grandfather had been a jeweller & metalsmith in the Jamaican town in which my own jewellery business was founded. It seems that things have come full circle and I’m proud to be a part of that legacy. It seems as though my ancestors have been guiding me all along.

I’m mainly self-taught and I draw inspiration from everything around me, from my life experiences, and heavily from the natural environment. I thinks it important that every piece I release is something I can be proud of. I use my intuition and the materials that catch my eye to create whimsical, interesting and distinctive pieces of jewellery that are aimed at making my customers feel special.

Thanks for visiting. Come again soon.

Love,

Courtney