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WRITTEN BY: Michele Chiappetta
P
icture yourself having the worst moment of your life, and then turning it around into a endeavor that changes lives, brings people together, creates a fandom and gives back to local charities. Jill Donovan, owner of Tulsa’s Rustic Cuff, certainly can. Donovan’s showroom of handcrafted leather and metal cuffs, all designed to be unique gifts to yourself or others, has exploded into popularity so strong, it’s hard not to bump into someone in T-Town who is either unfamiliar with Rustic Cuff or isn’t wearing one right now. The vision of Rustic Cuff didn’t start the stereotypical way, with a desire to make and sell jewelry. It started, quite unexpectedly, with an empty closet — once filled with gifts Donovan had received. If you haven’t heard her story, you can read it in depth online, but the gist is this: she liked regifting and did it often (as many of us do). She also liked Oprah. She was on the Oprah show once. Just once. But after that, her life changed.
82 February 2016
While the national success of Rustic Cuff has brought fame and fortune Jill Donovan’s way, it’s the unique community and compassion associated with her philanthropy that makes these eyecatching, arm candy treats so sweet.