Red Bank artist Bethany Wilson will open the doors of her new specialized jewelry store, Bela Co, with a grand opening on Sept. 4 and 5. Located at 3803 Dayton Boulevard in Chattanooga, Bela Co’s special celebration will be from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday.
Born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee, Ms. Wilson’s art is heavily inspired by the outdoorsy upbringing the mountainous landscapes provided. Nature, earth tones, beaches, the southwest and her travels throughout the world are apparent in every design. Although she has two degrees in the arts, the courage to actually "be an artist" seemed unrealistic. In 2015, Ms. Wilson took the leap of faith and established what is now Bela Co.
While living in East Nashville, Ms. Wilson set up a makeshift shop in the attic of her East Nashville cottage and began making jewelry. She and her husband moved to Red Bank in 2016 where she continued selling her unique creations online through her website, Bela.Co and at craft shows, festivals, and wholesale accounts.
Bela Co just completed its sixth year in business and Ms. Wilson believes now is the time to expand her company to the new storefront location in Chattanooga. She is adamant about producing quality pieces that will last for years. Ms. Wilson often found that the jewelry she purchased would break or tarnish or even turn her skin a funky color. As a result, Ms. Wilson now makes all of her jewelry and is adamant in testing the materials and designs of any of her pieces before they make it to the showroom.
“I have always been a huge believer in quality, so I decided to start making jewelry with high quality metals that could be worn all the time,” said Ms. Wilson. “That is how I wear my jewelry, so here we are, Bela Co., jewelry you can live in.”
Ms. Wilson and her husband, Tommy, live in Red Bank with their two young children, Sierra and Warren. She plans to open her new store on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays while continuing to maintain her online business.
For more information or to shop Wilson’s distinctive and artful designs, go toBela.coor follow Bela Co on Instagram @belajewelryco, Facebook and Pinterest at Bela Co, and Twitter @belabegonias