Jewellery should do more than accessorise – it should empower, express, and elevate. That’s the ethos behind One Dame Lane, the Irish jewellery brand founded by Wicklow designer Lyndsey Cavanagh, where timeless, trend-led jewellery meets sustainable design and thoughtful craftsmanship.
With two boutique stores, an ever-growing online presence and a unique Bridal Styling Suite that offers a first-of-its-kind experience in Ireland, Lyndsey is redefining the Irish jewellery scene.
At the eir VIP Publishing Power of Women Awards 2024, Lyndsey took home the Accessories Award, a recognition of her talent, creativity, and business acumen. Here, she talks to us about building a sustainable brand and the role of digital connectivity in her success.
1. Lyndsey, what inspired you to start One Dame Lane?
I’ve always had a love — almost a reverence — for jewellery. Even as a teenager, I’d save every penny and spend it on accessories. I’d dress in neutrals, and then completely elevate the look with jewellery. That’s where I felt most creative and most myself.
My years as a makeup artist gave me this incredible exposure to styling, shoots, models — I learned how to create a feeling, a whole vibe through visuals. And eventually, I realised I wanted to create something of my own. I studied goldsmithing and design, and it became clear: my path was to design jewellery that made a statement — because that’s how I’ve always seen jewellery. Even back in ancient times, it wasn’t just decoration; it was power, expression, identity.
When I lived in Spain, I saw women wearing bold jewellery with complete confidence. They didn’t shy away from being seen. It was unapologetic — and I loved it. Coming home to Ireland, I noticed such a contrast. There was a real conservatism, especially when it came to style. Women were hesitant to stand out or wear something that made them feel bold. That stuck with me.
So One Dame Lane was born not just from creativity, but from this urge to bring Irish women with me — to build their confidence, to show them how to wear jewellery in a way that feels authentic and expressive. I wanted to create pieces that felt easy to wear, that layer and stack effortlessly, and that could evolve with someone’s style. Jewellery that’s adaptable, lasting, and makes you feel like you, only bolder.
2. What role has technology played in the growth of your business?
Technology has been absolutely essential — especially when you’re running a fast-paced retail and e-commerce business like ours. So much of what we do depends on real-time communication and quick decision-making. Whether it’s responding to customers, uploading content, managing stock, or syncing systems between stores, connectivity powers everything.
We’ve been an eir customer in our Greystones store for years, and when we opened in Blackrock, we were lucky enough to win an eir VIP Publishing Power of Women Award — part of that prize was a year of free gigabit fibre broadband and 5G mobile service and I have to say, the team made the whole setup completely seamless. They were professional but personable — real people, always ready to help, and genuinely invested in making sure we had the best and most up-to-date service possible.
Communication is something I preach in the business — I always say, over-communicate! It keeps things running smoothly, whether it’s among the team or with our customers. And in such a visual, high-volume space like retail and fashion, speed and connectivity really are everything. With eir’s fibre broadband, we’ve never had to worry about lag or slow uploads — and that makes a huge difference behind the scenes.
3. One Dame Lane is known for its collaborations. How have these partnerships shaped your brand and your business?
The collaborations have been a really special part of the journey — mostly because they’ve all happened so organically. Back in 2018, when I opened my bricks-and-mortar store, it was still mainly a makeup space with just a small table of jewellery — something I did purely to keep my creative flame alive. I never imagined it would turn into the business it is today.
But then stylists started coming in and borrowing pieces for shoots. One of them was Corina Gaffey, who was styling Vogue Williams at the time. Vogue loved the jewellery and mentioned it on her podcast — and that really gave us a moment. It was totally unexpected, but so genuine. That’s always been the key with collaborations: they’ve never come from a commercial strategy or a sales pitch. They’ve come from real relationships and mutual admiration.
Roz Purcell was actually a customer first — she came into the shop and bought pieces, and we eventually named one of our earrings after her: the Roz Hoops, which went on to be one of our best sellers. Through the Vogue connection, Joanne McNally also discovered us, and reached out because she could never find the kind of jewellery she actually wanted to wear. She said, “Can I just design some?” And we said yes — and it was honestly one of the most fun, joyful projects we’ve done. It was never about the money; it was about the energy and creativity.
Lauren Arthurs was the same. She told us that doing a collaboration with One Dame Lane was on her bucket list for the year — so of course, we made it happen. Again, she was a genuine fan, someone who already wore our pieces and supported the brand.
What I love is that we’ve never gone out chasing collaborations. We’ve never cold-pitched or approached people with a campaign idea. Every person we’ve worked with has come to us first, because they actually love the jewellery — and that sincerity really resonates with their audiences too.
For years, I didn’t have a marketing team, a publicist, or a content creator. It was just me, a small retail team, and a lot of passion. So seeing how far we’ve come — with the support of other women in fashion and media who genuinely wanted to lift us up — it’s emotional. Because really, I got into jewellery to help lift them up. And the fact that it’s come full circle like that… it’s honestly magic.
4. You launched Ireland’s first exclusive Bridal Styling Suite. Tell us more about that!
Our Bridal Styling Suite was the first of its kind in Ireland — and it came about really naturally. Bridal jewellery was actually the first thing I ever designed for the brand. Having worked on hundreds of weddings as a makeup artist, I understood the pressure brides feel to get everything just right — and how little guidance there actually is when it comes to finishing the look.
Jewellery can be overwhelming, especially for someone who doesn’t usually wear it. So I started designing bridal pieces that felt modern, romantic, and personal — jewellery that reimagined what bridal could be.
The Suite is a dedicated space where we offer one-to-one styling. We talk through the gown, neckline, veil, hairstyle, heirlooms — all the elements that make up the look. Then we build jewellery around that, piece by piece. The idea is to create a seamless flow, so the earrings complement the veil, which works with the dress, which ties into the overall vibe — whether it’s soft and ethereal or sleek and sculpted.
It’s a special experience. Brides often come in with their bridesmaids, have a glass of bubbly, pick gifts, and even style their mums. And for anyone who can’t make it in, we offer a Home Try-On Service — up to five pieces for a week, so they can try them at fittings or trials and feel confident before they commit.
For me, this side of the business is deeply personal. It’s where One Dame Lane started, and to this day, it’s still one of the parts I love the most.
5. What did winning an eir VIP Publishing Power of Women Award mean to you?
Honestly… it was a complete shock. I wasn’t even in the room when they announced my name, that’s how little I expected it. I’ve always been someone who holds my head high in failure and low in success. I get awkward around praise, hide in photos, and generally feel more comfortable cheering others on than being in the spotlight myself.
But this award really meant something. I started the business first and then found out I was pregnant not long after, so both my daughter and the business grew up together. There was no other option, I brought her to work with me every day in those early years, and we figured it out side by side. So when moments like this come along, it doesn’t just feel like a win for me, it feels like a win for both of us.
The eir Power of Women award was a reminder that the long days, the juggle, the chaos, it’s all worth it. You can build something meaningful on your own terms. And even if I still get mortified at being recognised, I’m deeply grateful for it.
6. What support has been most valuable to you along the way?
Without question, it’s been the people around me. My family, my friends, my staff, my daughter, my community… that’s the real backbone of One Dame Lane.
In the early days, the team was tiny, sometimes it was literally just me, so support came in all forms. My brother, who already had a full-time job and a family, would give up his Saturdays to pour Prosecco for brides and chat to them while I tried to keep up. Friends would give up their weekends to help out in the shop. Staff would drive an hour and a half just to be there when we knew it would be busy. And still to this day, the team goes above and beyond in ways that move me constantly.
We’ve built a culture where people really care. About the customers, about each other, about the brand. I’ve had staff insist I take a holiday and promise to hold the fort, just because they knew I needed a break. I’ve seen team members get taxis out to brides on the morning of their wedding with last-minute jewellery pieces. There’s an insane amount of communication and commitment behind the scenes, because everyone genuinely wants to do right by our customers and by each other.
That’s what I’m most proud of. At One Dame Lane, you’re here because you have grit, you have heart, and you want your work to matter. Watching that culture take root and grow has been one of the most beautiful parts of this journey.
And of course, there’s been structured support too. I’ve had brilliant experiences with the Local Enterprise Office, I’ve done a number of their programs and they’ve been incredibly supportive. More recently, Going for Growth has been a game-changer. Connecting with other women who are navigating similar paths, it’s powerful. It reminds you that you’re not alone, even when it feels like it.
There’s been a lot thrown at us over the years, from becoming a single mum to navigating Covid, but with love, grit, and a little chaos, we came through it. Together.
7. What’s next for One Dame Lane?
There’s so much on the horizon that I’m excited about. We’ve got two beautiful collaborations launching before the end of the year, both incredibly natural, creative partnerships with women who genuinely love and wear the brand. That’s always the most important thing for me, that collaborations feel authentic, not strategic.
We’re also expanding into four of the beautiful Avoca stores, which is such a proud moment for the brand. Their focus on quality, Irish design, and considered lifestyle aligns so perfectly with what we do at One Dame Lane, it feels like the right next step.
A new bridal collection is also on the way. Bridal has always been at the heart of the brand, and I’m constantly inspired to evolve that side of the business while keeping it deeply personal and style-forward.
And yes, we’re opening another physical space soon, which still blows my mind. The fact that this business started with one small table of jewellery and now we’re opening new doors… it’s wild.
At the centre of it all, the focus hasn’t changed: thoughtful design, craftsmanship, sustainability, and making people feel seen. Whether it’s your wedding day or your Wednesday, our jewellery is made to empower, express, and elevate, every single time.
You can find out more about One Dame Lane here.