Love Little Rock Award
Brandy Thomason McNair, the designer and owner of Bella Vita Jewelry, moved to Little Rock in 2007 and quickly fell in love with the city. One year later, she founded Bella Vita Jewelry and turned her passion for creating jewelry into a career. Brandy began selling her jewelry at local art shows and craft fairs. Then, she started selling her unique designs at wholesale to stores across the country and eventually opened her own storefront in downtown Little Rock in 2014.
For McNair, Little Rock is a city with a lot of history and opportunities. Although jewelry is still the heart and soul of Bella Vita, the storefront has expanded to sell other gifts made from local artists, female entrepreneurs or fair trade companies. Customers also have the opportunity to participate in workshops and attend events where they can learn and create. As a small business owner, McNair always wants to go the extra mile to make customers happy and feel special by offering beautiful jewelry that can be passed down within families.
Bella Vita Jewelry also is a drop-off donation spot for The Van, a local organization dedicated to providing resources to the homeless. Furthermore, McNair has a donation jar at the front counter for customers to give to another local organization, Our House, during the holiday season. Bella Vita Jewelry matched the total amount raised this past year. She hopes to get more small businesses downtown to do the same this year so more people can be helped.
McNair is committed to helping other people and giving back to the Little Rock community through her unique jewelry and contributions from Bella Vita Jewelry.