When she left France and moved to the United States, one of the things Anne Harrill (pictured) thought about was how in the world could she turn a country she had never visited into her new home. The answer was through jewelry.
That’s the short version of the story. The meatier version goes something like this: Harrill came to America for love, but she built community, a company, and the creative life she now loves as an artist through jewelry.
Goodbye, Avignon. Hello, Cleveland.
Harrill met the love of her life, her husband Doc Harrill, and settled in Ohio to be with him. But even when you’re with the person you’re meant to be with, not everything goes as you’d like or want. Harrill was homesick.
“Midwest culture is so very different,” Harrill says. “I was so culture shocked and so lonely. I was a nanny at the time, and my husband was a musician. I felt like I was always hiding out. I wasn’t fluent [in English], and I didn’t want to talk to anyone.”
On a trip home, Harrill’s mom suggested she start making jewelry. Harrill resisted, but eventually she gave it a try. Something clicked, and Harrill suddenly couldn’t stop making jewelry. She came home wearing some of the pieces she created, and friends started asking where she got them.
Jewelry became Harrill’s outlet and, eventually, her connection to the community. Harrill took the items she made after work or on weekends with its French minimalist modern vibe to every art or weekend market she could find. Soon, a group formed, and Harrill started hanging out with the same makers and creators, going from show to show. That mash-up of artistic talents helped the designer see a path forward.
“I started building my own ideas, and I applied on my own to a show,” Harrill says. “I remember making as much money as I did in a week as a nanny. I got hooked again.”
Her brand, Océanne, grew into one store and then two. At her retail locations, Harrill creates spaces for people to chat, hang out, and learn about local artists. She holds classes and special events. She hosts community gatherings when she can, letting people use the space to get to know one another and support Cleveland-based organizations.
“I’m an extrovert, and I get energy from connecting with people,” Harrill says. “There was a huge movement when I started that was supportive of handmade goods, and that was part of how I grew. But I also grew because Cleveland had so many opportunities for small businesses and appreciation for shopping small.”
Now, those kids Harrill met years ago when she first starting doing shows and hanging out with the local artist community are teens, tweens, and adults. Harrill has lots of store-related responsibilities, so she now serves as a mentor to new jewelers as they produce some of the work she sells in the stores.
One of Océanne’s core values is relationships. Specifically, Harrill says: “Knowing people and becoming known.” Her work there also is for everyone, “keeping our products affordable, not elitist. Everyone can always leave with something.”
“What’s great is Cleveland is big enough that you can grow, but also small enough where you can really get to know people,” Harrill says. “I’m excited to be a part of that growth with what we do. There’s room enough for all of us to make what we love.”
Top: Anne Harrill moved to the United States to be with the love of her life. But jewelry proved to be her saving grace when she got here, and it has proven to be a lifesaver for many others as well, she says (all photos courtesy of Anne Harrill and Océanne).
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