JENNIFER
DERRIG

Jennifer Derrig is a jewelry designer, entrepreneur, author, illustrator, and cultural storyteller with more than two decades of experience turning heritage, heart, and hard-won truth into things that last. A proud dual American-Italian citizen with deep Irish roots, Jennifer has built two of the most recognized heritage jewelry brands in the country, written a novel, illustrated a children’s book, and done all of it with the same philosophy she lives by: make something real, make it meaningful, and make it yours.
A graduate of the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, Jennifer entered the jewelry industry in the 1990s with a sharp eye for design and an even sharper instinct for storytelling. She and her husband, Andrew, founded The Irish Jewelry Company to honor their families’ Irish heritage, combining four decades of industry experience with the kind of personal meaning that turns a piece of jewelry into a family treasure. In 2020, she turned her heart toward her Italian roots and launched The Italian Jewelry Company — a brand celebrating generations of Italian artistry, symbolism, and the deeply rooted family values she grew up with. Together, these two brands do what Jennifer has always done best: honor the cultures, symbols, and traditions that shape who we are. Whether it’s Gaelic or garlic or a charming mix of both — there’s a piece for that.
At The Irish Jewelry Company, Jennifer designs original Celtic pieces inspired by the symbols and traditions of Ireland, from the Celtic Mothers Knot and Sisters Knot to the Infinity Claddagh and exclusive bridal collections Ainé and Angus. Every piece is her attempt to capture the true essence of the Celtic spirit in wearable form. At The Italian Jewelry Company, Jennifer draws on her Southern Italian family roots in Sicily and Naples, creating collections that celebrate love, family, faith, and timeless beauty — from Cornicello charms and Miraculous Medals to Italian gold chains and sacred heart jewelry that carries the soul of the Old World straight to your door.
But jewelry is only part of her story.
In May 2026, Jennifer published The Red Thread: A Novel of Marriage, Reinvention, and the Courage to Begin Again — a deeply personal and beautifully crafted debut novel about a classically trained jewelry designer named Jenna Marino who spends years making herself smaller for a man who would never deserve her, and who finally finds her way out through twelve secret pieces of jewelry that tell the truth she cannot yet say out loud. Set in Brooklyn, with a north-facing studio and a friendship that becomes everything, The Red Thread is a story about the marriage that almost erased a woman, the work that saved her, and the man who waited without being asked for the timing to be hers. It is raw, romantic, real, and unmistakably Jennifer.
That same month, she published Kiera Biera Loves Her Mouth: A Children’s Picture Book About Self-Love and Embracing What Makes You Different — a warm, whimsical picture book she both wrote and illustrated, inspired by a real poem written by a real second-grader named Kiera who kept a positive attitude and a big smile through a series of difficult dental procedures. With vibrant watercolor illustrations and a sassy, big-hearted little girl at its center, Kiera Biera Loves Her Mouth is the kind of book that makes kids feel seen and reminds them that the things they wish they could change are often the very best things about them. Perfect for story time, classrooms, and every child who has ever felt a little different.
Jennifer’s work has earned recognition far beyond the jewelry world. She was named a Top 10 Finalist in StartupNation’s Leading Moms in Business competition, honored by the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce as Businessperson of the Year, and recognized by the Lynbrook Kiwanis and her community for decades of volunteer leadership and service. She holds an Honorary Life Membership to the PTA, an honor she has called one of the highlights of her life.
Whether she is designing a Claddagh ring, writing a novel that feels like it was pulled straight from the marrow, illustrating a picture book that makes a child feel brave, or building brands that carry the stories of two proud cultures forward, Jennifer Derrig does all of it from the same place. The work. The heritage. The truth. And the thread that runs through all of it, no matter how far it stretches.

Also in May 2026, Jennifer published The Heritage Brand: How to Build a Heritage Brand People Love — a business book for cultural entrepreneurs whose products are rooted in identity, story, and tradition. Drawing on two decades of building The Irish Jewelry Company and The Italian Jewelry Company, The Heritage Brand reveals why some brands inspire lifelong loyalty while others are forgotten the moment the sale ends — and delivers a proven framework for closing what Jennifer calls the “belonging gap.” Part strategy, part manifesto, and entirely the product of lived experience, it is essential reading for every artisan, maker, and heritage brand owner who knows their work is meaningful but can’t quite figure out why it isn’t selling the way it should. The Business of Belonging starts here.

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