Our Story
Hysteria draws inspiration from the rich tapestry of women both past and present, and the absurd tradition of policing the female spirit.
From nineteenth-century etiquette books instructing us to 'speak gently, laugh softly' to contemporary pressures to suppress our ardent impulses, women have been taught that our fullness of character is a flaw rather than a source of strength.
We create adornment rooted in modern musings and vintage nostalgia, a nod to the complexity of the female experience. Wear as a reclamation of your own maximalism, too muchness, and a fierce embrace of everything that makes you whole.
Meet Jackie
Jackie grew up in the Midwest, spending weekends at the local bead shop dreaming up new creations to wear to school the next week. Her early love of adornment led her to Pratt Institute in New York, where she discovered that her truest form of self-expression came through what she put on her body- her armor, her voice, her joy.
Like most women, Jackie learned early that there was a 'right way' to act, following the unwritten rules of womanhood.
The inspiration for her label, Hysteria, has always been deeply personal, from her own experience to her sister's diagnosis of a debilitating disease that has historically been minimized as female hysteria.
When Jackie learned that the word 'hysteria' comes from the Greek word for uterus, she was... utterly hysterical. All of her designs are for women who refuse to dim their light, creating accessories that match the magnitude of their spirit.
Craftsmanship
Our demi-fine jewelry is meticulously designed in New York and hand-crafted in Rhode Island, home to over two centuries of jewelry-making mastery.
Each bone-carved stone is ethically produced by skilled female artisans in Bali, ensuring every piece reflects our commitment to thoughtful, deliberate creation.