The journey so far
Hey, I’m Holly - owner and creator of Ilex Home! Ilex is a brand that I've been nurturing since 2020 - it all began in my living room when I started selling plant hangers that I'd made over lockdown. I started to indulge my creative side for the first time in years, and realised that it was what I had been missing from my life.
By 2022, I had developed a small range of products and I started trading at artisan markets - meeting customers for the first time and becoming a part of the local creative community.
In 2024, I moved my workspace into an art studio at Globe Arts in West Yorkshire, which gave me space to grow. I now have a shop space at Red Brick Market in Sheffield, I regularly take part in popup shops, trade at artisan markets around the UK, host workshops, and work with a range of beautiful independent shops and cafés.
The Ilex Home brand
I have a love for bold, expressive décor and statement jewellery that reflects individual style. I believe your home should be a sanctuary - a space that sparks joy and feels truly your own. My aim is to craft vibrant, feel-good pieces that help you decorate both yourself and your space in a way that feels authentic and uplifting. My work can be described as dopamine décor, celebrating colour, playfulness, and personal expression.
Values
Sustainability has always been a priority at Ilex Home. As the brand has grown, mindful business practices have remained a constant.
I believe that ethical shopping should feel easy and accessible. You shouldn’t have to dig through endless research or pay a premium to make eco-conscious choices. When sustainability is built into the making process, it means you can simply enjoy the things you love - knowing they’ve been made with care for both you and the planet.
Every product at Ilex Home is thoughtfully designed and handmade with sustainability in mind. From materials and packaging to processes and longevity, I've done the research so you don’t have to. These are pieces made to last, so you can feel good about every purchase, now and in the future.
What is it?
This is a question that I get a lot at markets. The material that I use most is an eco-resin. It's water-based, non-toxic and durable. If treated with care, these items will last a lifetime. Everything is handmade by me. The process involves creating a mixture of resin and adding colour, pouring into a mould to set, then sanding, sealing with wax, and polishing.
I make the wax myself, so I can say with confidence that it is 100% vegan friendly and cruelty free. I like to think that the wax is my secret ingredient - it's what makes the products smooth to touch (the most frequently used word that I hear at markets is "tactile"), and it makes the colours pop.
I'm all about variety, so I also create items using different mediums. As mentioned before, Ilex Home started with macramé plant hangers - created using super soft, recycled cotton cord - saved from items that would've otherwise gone to landfill! I also create earrings with resin, which allows me to create bold, bright, statement designs that are lightweight and comfortable to wear all day.