Drawing inspiration from her mother’s passion for fashion, Nicole Davis—founder and designer behind the exquisite Franci Jewelry—has dedicated herself to building a successful jewelry empire.
Her exceptional talent and attention to detail have garnered recognition and acclaim in fashion. Nicole’s jewelry has graced the runways of New York Fashion Week, Los Angeles Fashion Week and even Paris Fashion Week. Her pieces have been featured in renowned national and international magazines, including the esteemed Vogue Italia. Nicole’s jewelry designs speak volumes, capturing the essence of elegance, sophistication and artistic expression. And her personal style truly steals the spotlight!
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Nicole's look: jewelry & sunglasses by Franci Jewelry by Nicole Davis; red blazer romper by Pretty Little Thing; faux leather leggings from Dileme Boutique in Paris; and a pair of Vans.
How would you describe your style?
My style is timeless and effortlessly chic. My clothing really serves as a neutral canvas, allowing my accessories to steal the spotlight. Everything I create is a statement piece of jewelry. I used not to wear my jewelry every day, and then I realized why wait for a special occasion? My jewelry is the main attraction in my life!
How did you get into fashion?
My mom was a legendary buyer for fashion boutiques in Buffalo. I didn’t have a normal childhood! Back then, you used to bring your kids to work with you. I would go to work with my mom when she managed Cache, and she set me up in the fitting rooms.
Other kids were watching cartoons, and I played with Barbies, read Vogue and watched fashion shows. In third grade, I wrote a book about becoming a fashion designer. My mom still has it. I really grew up surrounded by fashion!
What sparked your interest in jewelry?
As I got older, I just gravitated toward jewelry. My mother would buy from Erickson Beamon, a famous jewelry designer in NYC, and little did I know that he would eventually inspire my pieces. He’s created jewelry for artists like Beyoncé, Madonna and Lady Gaga.
I wanted to learn more about jewelry making, so I took a class. One class turned into me spending hours upon hours diving in and teaching myself how to make jewelry.
What was your first break in the fashion industry?
It started when a friend of mine opened a store, and I started selling my work. Then Buffalo Fashion Week came calling, and I started making these huge pieces. Lauren Byrd, the founder, used to bring in designers from all over New York City and Miami to Buffalo.
After showcasing my work at Buffalo Fashion Week a couple of the designers reached out to me, and the next thing I knew, I was off to L.A. fashion week. I used all of my money, and my pastor bought my ticket to L.A. I was lucky enough to set up a vending table and show some of my pieces. I met celebrities like Gabrielle Dennis and stylists who wanted to pull from my collection.
This was all in a span of three weeks after launching, and to be honest, I quickly crashed and burned. So much of what people see as the facade on social media doesn’t line up with the struggles businesses go through!
When did your business start to flourish?
The real turning point for my business was in 2017 when I had my son. I realized I needed to stop playing around and make this a profitable business for me and my family. I started taking business classes, and then I found a women and minority entrepreneurs program and got a business advisor with the Small Business Center. The winning move for me was when my best friend came on as my business partner. She's the complete opposite of me; as my husband says, it’s her job to keep me tethered to the earth!
In 2019 we were on top of the world, showing at New York Fashion Week, and had just opened a showroom in downtown Buffalo. Then Covid hit. This was another very difficult time, but we were lucky enough to survive and thrive!
What does Franci Jewelry mean to you and your journey as a jewelry designer?
It’s truly my own journey of self-discovery. When I launched Franci, I had very low self-esteem. I didn't like myself and where I was headed. Then I started to create these beautiful pieces of jewelry that women could put on and transform how they talked about themselves or how they looked and felt.
Franci Jewelry is a way for women to have a boost of confidence. I don’t like to say it’s just for confident women—it’s more about becoming the woman you are meant to be once you put on a piece of my jewelry!
How was Paris Fashion Week?
Umm, yeah, AMAZING! I always knew I would love Paris, but I didn't know just how much I would love it! This trip was supposed to be three years ago, but then the pandemic hit. The amount of work I had to put in to make this happen was beyond. I had just given birth and had a C-section and traveled with a 3-month-old and 5-year-old to Paris with my husband. It was a struggle between my daughter's passport, being in airports forever and having a newborn. I attempted to get my hair done before we left and ended up looking like a poodle by the time we landed. Of course, everyone said, “Oh my gosh, you are nuts for doing this!” I'm like yeah, I always embrace it, but when I tell you within hours of landing, I forgot about everything.
Being in Paris was incredible, and going to the fittings, they just do things differently than in New York. New York is the hustle and bustle, and you thrive off the adrenaline. In Paris, it’s a completely different vibe. A more sophisticated and special experience. I was invited to show alongside New York-based designer Lenshina Nchame. She has an incredible couture collection.
It was such a surreal experience to be on that level. After the show, people wanted to take selfies with me and inquired if I was the jewelry designer. It was the best career move, and I’ve made so many connections. They want me to show in Milan Fashion Week next!
