
Our Story:
Designed to inspire confidence, Nickel & Suede empowers women to be their most authentic selves and make every day brave.
After founder and serial entrepreneur, Kilee Nickels, was unable to find a gold version of her favorite statement earrings, she decided to design her own out of leather she had on hand from her previous accessories business. Little did she know that these teardrop statement earrings would spark a movement and introduce an innovation to the accessories market – lightweight statement earrings that leveraged the versatility, durability, and feather-light weight of premium Italian leather. Nickel & Suede’s statement earrings soon developed a cult-following and a community of women excited to try something new, step out of their comfort zone, and inspire others to do the same.
Fast forward seven years, and what once began as a side project run out of the Nickels’ small basement workshop has now evolved into a national brand with three retail locations, and a design office and production facility based in Kansas City. Nickel & Suede has been recognized as one of Inc. 500’s Fastest Growing Companies nationally and #1 in the Midwest.
Our Founder, Kilee Nickels:
Creative, entrepreneur, and proud #boymom, Kilee Nickels is the CEO and Founder of Nickel & Suede. Kilee’s entrepreneurial drive not only comes from her love of design, but also her passion for creating community and inspiring others to be their most authentic selves. To further that mission, Kilee launched With Kilee Nickels, a weekly podcast dedicated to inspiring women to be confident in pursuing their passions. Previously, Kilee ran One Little Momma, a style blog and community, and co-founded One Little Belt, a children’s apparel line. Kilee lives in Kansas City with her family, and is married to her college sweetheart and business partner, Soren Nickels.

Quality First, Style Always
We spent years perfecting our handcrafted approach, and it’s important that every N&S accessory stands the test of time. For that reason, we only use the highest quality premium Italian leather, and 14k gold-filled, 14k gold plated, or sterling silver components.