Jewelers Wove Made Inc. it usually takes three weeks to custom-make one of its popular tennis bracelets, but when Travis Kelce approached the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based jeweler looking for a sweet surprise for girlfriend Taylor Swift, the brand turned to a custom design in just three days.
“Because this was for him, we were all on deck,” Simone Kendle, CEO of Wove Made Inc., a company founded in 2022 by two former Rangers, tells PEOPLE.
In our exclusive interview, Kendle spilled all about how the collaboration came about, explaining how the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 34, initially connected with Wove Made through professional golfer Michelle Wie West, who created a collection of friendship bracelets inspired by Swift with a jewelry company in the summer of 2023.
“It’s really a full-circle moment,” Kendle says of his partnership with Kelce.
“At the time, there was serious Taylor fever going on with her Eras Tour and Michelle was inspired by the friendship bracelets that were being exchanged at her concerts,” Kendle adds of the original collection. “She knew she wanted to do an elevated take on the beaded bracelets we saw people wearing at her concerts.”
“TNT” bracelet by Wove Made Inc.
Wove Made Inc.
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Kendle says the collaboration began in December when Kelce approached the jewelers and asked them to create a personalized “TNT” bracelet for Swift. (She says he didn’t mention where Kelce got TNT, but she imagines it’s a tribute to their relationship.)
Immediately after creating the first one, he asked for another suitable one for him.
“The team’s first reaction was utter excitement!” she says. “A lot of us are Swifties (especially since she’s from Pennsylvania, where Wove is based) and the idea of Taylor wearing one of our pieces was really exciting because we knew it would bring a lot of exposure to our brand.”
She says Swift’s custom tennis bracelet is priced at $6,360 and is meticulously handcrafted in 14K yellow gold. She adds that it includes 4.62ctw of lab-grown diamonds set with custom TNT yellow gold “beads.” The beads are encrusted with sparkling pavé diamonds.
Kendle explains that Kelce’s bracelet is made of 14K yellow gold and includes 10.12ctw of lab-grown diamonds. Although identical in design, it is simply a much larger version of Taylor’s, including larger TNT 14K gold and diamond beads.
Matching “TNT” bracelets for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.
Wove Made Inc.
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Ever since Wove Made Inc., which started primarily as an engagement ring company, sent Kelce the bracelets, the team has excitedly watched Swift at games hoping to spot her wearing the bracelet. Kendle says they followed every photo of her that was posted — whether it was of her cheering Travis on at a game or a night out in New York.
“We first saw the bracelet when the rest of the world saw it!” she says.
“We had almost given up on ever seeing her in a bracelet until THAT infamous hug,” he adds. “As she wrapped her arms around Travis to congratulate him, a member of our team noticed the bracelet sticking out of her sweater and raised the alarm!”
Rob Carr/Getty
Kendle also posted a video on TikTok where she shared more information about the ring. It has since gone viral with nearly 300,000 views.
“The fact that he wanted to give her his number on a bracelet and then bought her a custom tennis friendship bracelet is iconic,” one person comments on the video.
Another TikTok user writes: “I love how sentimental he is. She deserves this kind of love ♥️”
In the days after seeing it on Swift, Kendle shares how they saw a 5,000% increase in traffic to their website. Their social media followers more than doubled, and jewelry sales increased by 2461.46%.
“We appreciate the outpouring of support we’ve received from the online community. People have been so kind and supportive and we’ve seen nothing but positivity come out of this moment,” says Kendle.
“We’re connected to so many different communities and we’ve really seen people from all over cheering us on,” she adds. “It was heartwarming to see the impact we had and that our story of a small startup on the wrist of one of the world’s biggest celebrity success stories has inspired people!”
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Source: HIS Education