A serendipitous partnership between Detroit’s Rebel Nell and Belle Isle Aquarium, offers customers an opportunity to wear a piece of history from the original creation of the aquarium, in a limited edition jewelry line.
BELLE ISLE | AMY NECKLACE
This beautiful and unique collection is created and repurposed from the interior of the Aquarium, highlighting the original marine green color with flecks of gold leaf paint – a piece of history that holds a spot in the heart of Detroiters. To give back to the local community, 10% of the net proceeds from each sale of the collection will benefit the Belle Isle Conservancy, a non-profit aiming to protect preserve, restore and enhance the natural environment and unique character of Belle Isle, while additional proceeds support opportunities for many women in Detroit.
According to Rebel Nell, the collection was inspired not only the brands goal to preserve memories but the work that
BELLE ISLE | ANTONIO CUFF LINKS
Rebel Nell does within the community. “Belle Isle is just such an iconic gem in Detroit that it’s always really been on our radar to try and find a way to partner with them.” Amy Peterson, Co-Founder & CEO of Rebel Nell said “it turned out to be one of the most beautiful collections I think we’ve ever done.”
The line, originally featuring 16 unique pieces between $50 and $100 in the collection, saw a great success in sales over the holiday season, nearly selling out the limited-edition pieces. “We are really down to our last few items once it’s out its out. We don’t have any more material to make I think that’s what’s also what makes this collection so special, because we are really limited by the material we have” says Peterson. Now, customers can choose from four remaining items to purchase and wear a piece of the aquarium, which opened in 1904 and holds 10,000 square feet across Belle Isle.
Today, the aquarium is home to a unique collection of fish with one of the largest collections of air breathing fish in the world, and it houses the only known collection of all seven species of gar in North America. The aquarium continues to grow and flourish as new exhibits of fish, amphibians and reptiles are added, tanks are restored, and history is preserved for generations to come.
BELLE ISLE | NECHELLE GOLD NECKLACE
What makes this partnership so especial is the hope and passion from both business to make it come to life and the shared passion and love for the greater good of historic Detroit. When renovations at Belle Isle Aquarium began, staff preserved pieces with the intention of collaborating with Rebel Nell, all while Rebel Nell had begun ideation of the partnership as well. The pieces preserved from the original paint and creation of the aquarium were then transformed into jewelry, giving Detroiters yet another opportunity to give back to their community and hold a piece of history near and dear to their heart.
Rebel Nell began in 2013 with the mission to employ women facing barriers to employment in Detroit, educate them on
BELLE ISLE | TAYLOR BRACELET – GOLD
financial management, life wellness and entrepreneurship, and empower them to transition to a life of independence. Since then, the brand has also excelled in highlighting Detroit’s prized possessions through collections including: Comerica Park, Joe Louis Arena, Michigan Central Station and the Palace of Auburn Hills and now, Belle Isle Aquarium, among others.
The collection can be purchased at Rebel Nell’s retail store at 1314 Holden St. in Detroit or online at rebelnell.com. The brand has also recently launched on Amazon Fashion where customers can shop favorite Rebel Nell styles, exclusively on Amazon, online or via the app.
