Overview
Jenna Clifford wasn’t just a jeweller; she was a builder of meaning. Over three decades she turned a home-grown studio into a household name synonymous with bespoke craftsmanship, mentorship and women’s empowerment. She founded Jenna Clifford Designs in 1992, grew it into a family business and after her passing in May 2025, left the brand in the hands of her three daughters, who now steward her legacy.
I’ve seen her global pull first-hand. While in Europe, high-status contacts knew Jenna by name. That reach, born in Johannesburg, travelled far beyond South Africa’s borders.
Early Life and Beginnings
Born 11 September 1959, Clifford’s story starts with grit: a single mother who carved out a living designing jewellery for friends and early clients, often working 18-hour days until the brand took shape. Before the formal launch of Jenna Clifford Designs, she operated a small retail outlet in the mid-1980s on Johannesburg’s West Rand an early proof of her persistence and hustle.
Founding a Brand (1992) and Building a Studio
The brand formally began in 1992. With limited capital and a second bond on her home, Jenna founded Jenna Clifford Designs and established a studio at 19 West Road South, Morningside still the heart of the company today. In those formative years she worked alongside business and life partner Dex Kotzé, helping turn a one-room dream into a recognised luxury house.
By 2002, the first retail boutique opened; the team grew to around 70 employees at its peak, including master craftsmen. The studio’s bespoke focus became its signature.
A Design Language: Bespoke First
Clifford’s philosophy was simple and exacting: jewellery should reflect the wearer’s inner life. The house is best known for bespoke commissions and remodellings, with a made-to-measure process that starts with a consultation, proceeds through drawings and CAD and culminates in a hand-finished piece. Typical timelines on custom work run from roughly nine working days for design development to two–four weeks for creation handled in-house by experienced artisans.
While the brand offers ready-to-wear collections, the bespoke spirit drives everything from heirloom redesigns to one-off engagement rings.
The World of Jenna Clifford
Jewellery
- Fine Jewellery, Classique, Silver: The core collections precious metals and stones through to sterling silver are complemented by bespoke services: custom design, remodelling and tailored engagement rings.
- Bespoke Practice: Every custom brief is treated as a one-of-a-kind artwork; designers and goldsmiths iterate with clients until the piece is uniquely theirs.
Homeware
Jenna Clifford Homeware spans tableware, porcelain, glassware and cutlery, with the brand explicitly noting bespoke pieces alongside signature collections think white porcelain with gold detailing and glassware designed to elevate the ritual of the table. Imagine setting a table with gold-accented cutlery and porcelain trimmed like palace service.
Trophies and Corporate Commissions
Beyond jewellery and homeware, the studio has a history of trophy design and corporate gifting. Notably, Jenna Clifford designed the Castle Test Series cricket trophy and archival images show other sporting commissions. Today, the brand publicly markets bespoke corporate gifts custom-branded jewellery and homeware for high-profile clients.
Collaborations, Campaigns and Events
- Breaking the Mould (2012): As part of Octagon’s campaign highlighting women who break barriers, Clifford created two bespoke diamond butterflies for Venus and Serena Williams.
- Dream Big Gardens (2008–2009): Public garden installations with Ryk Neethling amplified Jenna’s rose motif and her message about possibility.
- Barbie × JC (2024): A celebratory partnership marking Jenna’s 65th and Barbie’s 65th anniversaries led creatively by her daughters Chanelle and Summer signalled a generational handover while keeping the design DNA intact.
- Studio & Brand Events: The Sandton design studio served as a stage for launches and cultural moments for years right up to the public memorial celebration of Jenna’s life in 2025.
People, Clients and Global Recognition
Jenna’s circle stretched from heads of state to Hollywood and sport. Archival and brand materials document her with Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton and her pieces have adorned Celine Dion and Debra Messing. The Williams sisters appear in campaign imagery, and her studio became a gathering place for artists, athletes and entrepreneurs.
Advocacy and Philanthropy
Clifford was a relentless advocate for women’s rights and equality. She was honoured as a torchbearer for the United Nations Millennium Development Goal 3 (Gender Equality) initiative, publicly championed women in business, and mentored across generations. She also supported health and child-protection nonprofits and wildlife causes, including rhino conservation.
Family and the Team
Jenna built both a company and a family legacy. She and Dex Kotzé were partners during the brand’s expansion years; their relationship later ended. Graham Hall, meet her later in life and they were like lying and yang. Jenna’s three daughters Shayna, Chanelle and Summer are now the custodians of the brand. The studio highlights long-serving team members like Annette, a senior design consultant who trained under Jenna from 1997, reflecting how mentorship shaped the house’s culture.
Passing and Memorial
Jenna Clifford died on 20 May 2025 after an advanced cancer diagnosis earlier that year. Family statements and national outlets confirmed the news, with tributes spanning fashion, business and civil society. The brand has announced a public memorial celebration scheduled for Saturday, 20 September 2025, 10:00–12:30 at Gracepoint Church, 125 Duncan Rd, Glenferness, Midrand. Attendees can RSVP by Friday, 29 August 2025 via the official announcement:
What Happens Next, The Legacy Lives On
The three daughters Shayna, Chanelle and Summer love and miss Jenna deeply. In her final chapter, they were all able to be by her side. She spent those precious moments surrounded by the people she loved most. That, in itself, is a gift. It was a goodbye filled with love, presence and family the way she lived her life and the way she would have wanted to leave it.
Unlike a sale or corporate takeover, ownership and stewardship remain firmly in the family. The daughters have worked alongside Jenna, learning her craft and ethos first-hand.
In particular:
- Summer brings a visual eye to the brand, working as a talented photographer whose images feature in recent campaigns.
- Chanelle, as a creative leader and director, guides the brand’s vision while also leading major collaborations.
- Shayna, the eldest, contributes deeply to sustaining the family and creative legacy.
Together, they uphold the house’s bespoke craftsmanship tradition and are poised for even greater international reach. They continue to commission bespoke wedding rings, special jewellery pieces and corporate trophies just as Jenna intended.
We’re honoured to have met Jenna, Summer, Chanelle and the entire team during our interviews. Their warmth, dedication and vision resonate across every interaction. We look forward to watching and documenting the next chapters of their remarkable journey.
A Tribute to Family, Friends and Team
- Family: Jenna’s daughters are the living embodiment of her legacy. Together, they ensure her values continue in the studio’s creative heartbeat.
- Friends & Collaborators: From Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton to Serena and Venus Williams, Jenna’s circle was wide. Each relationship speaks to her personal warmth and ability to connect.
- Team & Mentorship: Designers like Annette (joined 1997) and staff members who stayed for decades underscore the mentoring ethos woven into the studio’s culture.
This isn’t just a brand it’s a creative family, built on genuine relationships and purpose-driven craft.
Accreditation and Sources
- About Jenna Clifford — https://www.jennaclifford.com/about-jenna-clifford
- Barbie × JC Collaboration — https://www.jennaclifford.com/about-jenna-clifford
- Public Memorial Details — https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ6uDIsCE5U/
- Daughters’ Tribute — https://youthvillage.co.za/2025/05/jewellery-designer-jenna-cliffords-daughters-pen-a-touching-tribute-to-her-after-her-passing/
- News24 Obituary — https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/celebrities/see-jenna-cliffords-timeless-craft-beyond-jewellery-a-legacy-of-purpose-20250522-1020
