Jing Vanessa Harrison is a former BYU student who studied plant and landscape systems. Upon her graduation in 2024, she started her small jewelry business.
From a variety of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and even hair clips, her company, Jardin Flora, makes art you can wear.
“It started from my love for nature and flowers. I always found it a little bit sad that when you buy fresh flowers, they die. So turning them into jewelry was like a really great way to preserve their beauty,” Harrison said.
Harrison creates jewelry primarily made from pressed flowers, using hypoallergenic gold-plated and sterling silver materials.
The idea for her business started when Harrison was in her program at BYU. One of her greatest inspirations while creating her business was her mother, Harrison explained.
“Growing up, she's always been the person to motivate and inspire me to just take the risk and try new things,” Harrison said. “She really focused on how she can bring service and happiness to other people through the things that she does; I think that's what really inspired me.”
Harrison explained that she was taught a business mindset through her mother’s example, so starting a business was something she was more inclined to take on.
“Vanessa is very execution-oriented and is very careful. Focused on just executing and getting things done,” said Graham Harrison, Vanessa Harrison’s husband.
While Jardin Flora was being created, Vanessa Harrison had supporters who stuck by her side and saw it all come to life.
Howard Chueh, a BYU alumnus and friend of Vanessa Harrison, shared: “It's amazing to see her create all these things by herself. It's not going to come in one, but it takes steps.”
Chueh was around when the business idea first started. Not knowing what would come from it, he still desired to show support to his friend anyway he could.
“We are all poor college students. I see her doing these things, and think she can just stay at home or watch movies, but she's making all this jewelry and making this money for herself, her tuition and for a living. It makes me so proud,” Chueh said.
“I want to motivate people that want to try to start their own business and turn their hobby into something bigger; I hope to be that kind of inspiration for these people,” Vanessa Harrison said.
Jardin Flora uses all types of flowers and can even include flowers from special occasions so that special memories can be preserved. Her work can be found on her website.