Create smiles.
Amanda Dervan, whose madian name is Amanda England, was born in Greenwich, CT. Her family moved to Block Island when she was seven years old. At age thirteen she worked under a well known island jewelry designer who taught her the basics of beading and wire wrapping. She showed her the importance of fine detail and instilled within her a passion for craftsmanship.
Amanda, at age fourteen, feeling the need for greater cultural diversity and educational opportunity, made a decision to move to Weston, CT. to live with her father and step-mother. Amanda brought with her a passion for jewelry, and introduced her step-mother, Suzanne England, into the world of Jewelry Design. In 2004, Amanda and Suzanne opened Younique Jewelry Designs. Their designs made it into many fine jewelry boutiques throughout Westport, CT, as well as local shops on Block Island. As jewelry sales increased so did people wanting to learn. Before they knew it, the two of the them were going from house to house teaching woman of all ages how to make jewelry. By age 18, Amanda, in conjuction with Suzanne, had not only a sucessful jewelry line in both Connecticut and Rhode Island, but had a large demand for people wanting to learn.
In 2006, Amanda was accepted into the Fashion Instuitute of Technology, for jewelry design. Her time at FIT, gave her a knowledge of both gemology and metal smithing, as well as a new ability to perdict fashion trends. That same year, Amanda and Suzanne opened Beadz Boutique, in Darien,CT. The bead store represented both a passion for jewelry making, as well as a place where local deisgners could showcase and sell there pieces.
Beadz Boutique was quite a sucess in its 12 years of being in business. Starting as a small shop on a Darien side street, Beadz Boutique transformed and moved to Darien's Boston Post Road, a location two and half times bigger than its original size.
Beadz Boutique won many awards including Moffly Media's Best of the Gold Coast, in both Best Children's Birthday Parties(2011) and Best Fashion Jewelry(2012). In addition to jewelry and beads, Beadz Boutique exclaimed that it's more then just a bead store, selling mutiple lines of handbags and woman's accessories.
Amanda's time at FIT and her experience at Beadz Boutique has transformed her into the designer she is today. Amanda has a unique ability to custom design a piece of jewelry to fit anyone's personal taste. Her insperations comes from island life, travels, art, fashion, and even other designers. She prides herself on being a jewelry design chameleon.
In 2017, Amanda married the love of her life. An irishman from Longford County. One of her favorite jewelry collections, is the collection she made for her own wedding. Usings the colors of the ocean to adorn herself and her bridesmaids.
October 8th 2018, Amanda welcomed her little girl Dylan Rose Dervan into the world. Her designs then took on a whole new meaning. Her designs were longer about finding her own creative outlet, but also to create and design peices that would one day make her daughter proud.
Her passion and design goal however has never truly changed. Happiness has always been her life motto and her design motivation. For her it is all about helping create a smile and to promote a happiness within another individual.
“Nothing will ever compare to the feeling you get when something you have created, put a smile on another persons face…thats what its all about Creating Smiles.”- Amanda Dervan (Amanda England Designs)