Our Story
Long before joie de Jade took form, the art of embroidery had already shaped its story.
Two family legacies are woven into the name: one belonging to Shirley Lee’s grandmother, Jade, and another held privately within joie.
As a young girl in Fujian Province, China, Shirley’s grandmother embroidered to help feed her family. Each stitch became a small act of provision at a time when even the most modest contribution carried meaning. What began from necessity became a quiet expression of strength, devotion, and artistry. She came to represent the craft as more than ornamentation: a skill shaped by patience, resourcefulness, and care that held lasting significance within the family.
That history lives on in the work of joie de Jade. Each piece is designed in New York and brought to life by our extraordinary team of artisans in India. Finding a team that spoke the same design language was essential—artisans who intuitively understand the vision behind each piece and possess the skill and imagination to bring it to life. Drawing upon generations of knowledge, precision, and mastery, every embroidered detail is created entirely by hand, lending each garment subtle variations and a character of its own.
Within the atelier, traditional, specialized, and lesser-known techniques are researched, tested, and refined, revealing new possibilities for texture, dimension, and movement. Each collection continues this study, honoring the past while exploring what the art form may yet become.
Fine silks, soft silhouettes, vintage references, and considered details shape pieces that feel feminine, timeless, and modern. Thoughtfully constructed to transcend seasons, each garment is created to evoke joy and effortless elegance while retaining its beauty through years of wear.
Produced slowly in limited quantities, the collections reflect a belief in making with intention rather than excess. This considered approach allows time and attention to remain at the heart of every piece.
The debut collection, Garden Studies, begins this continuing exploration through the poetry of nature, movement, and dimensional floral embroidery.
