Billie M. Hilliard

From a young age growing up in Houston, Billie was always creating—doll clothes, rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Her maternal grandmother, Jimmie Helena Hilliard, gifted her with her first sewing machine at the age of seven, nurturing a lifelong passion for fashion and design. By high school, Billie was modeling for Neiman Marcus, United Colors of Benetton, and international clothing designer Selven Okeef Jarmon. After graduation, she pursued fashion design in college while continuing to model and apprentice under Jarmon.

Though modeling opened many doors, Billie’s true passion lay in creating beautiful, tangible works of art with her hands. In 2007, after receiving repeated requests for her handmade designs, she officially launched her first jewelry line, which featured intricate bead and wirework. Her pieces were carried in boutiques across Texas, the U.S., and the Caribbean, and quickly caught the attention of celebrities including Beyoncé, Tracee Ellis Ross, Anna Camp, Robin Givens, and cast members of several popular television shows.

Determined to elevate her craft, Billie began an intensive apprenticeship under British master blacksmith Mark J. Hopper in Atlanta, Georgia. There, she immersed herself in traditional metalsmithing, silversmithing, and casting techniques, including work with steel. In 2012, she debuted her first collection of bronze pieces created using the ancient lost wax casting method—a technique she continues to use today. Billie’s work has since expanded to include silver and gold, and she is also a skilled stone setter, incorporating gemstones into her custom, handcrafted designs. By the spring of 2014, she unveiled a full collection of her signature pieces, reflecting a refined fusion of artistry, heritage, and craftsmanship.

Billie continues to create exquisite pieces in her workshop in Atlanta, GA, using a variety of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. She creates custom designed, one-of-kind accessories for the connoisseur of finely crafted heirloom lifestyle pieces. Her wearable art pieces have been shown in prominent galleries in the U.S. and picked up by the Daily Mail in the UK. Billie has also collaborated on product development projects with other designers and brands. Additionally, designing jewelry brought her back to her roots in fashion where her keen eye for design and styling were put to good use working as stylist and creative director for various magazine photo shoots and as Fashion Director for Oh Brides Magazine. Billie Hilliard jewelry has been featured in editorials in Eide Magazine (U.S.), Style Blueprint (U.S.), Atlanta Magazine (U.S.), Atlanta Look Book (U.S.), Bold Journey Magazine (U.S.),Shout Out Atlanta (U.S.), Voyage ATL (U.S.), Oh Brides Magazine (US), Essence Magazine (U.S.), Timodelle Magazine (Paris, France), and Flawless Magazine (Dublin, Ireland).

Billie’s aim is to design life pieces that are meant to be passed down into the generations as family heirlooms. She is ever-creating pieces and changing styles as she is inspired by other creations, her environment, and her world travels. Billie’s work has rendered her unequivocally qualified to offer the fashion industry the best in custom-made, high quality, uniquely designed lifestyle brand accessories sold today.