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JEM aprons was forged over open flame, setting the high standard of quality still used today. While Co-Founder Jerolyn prepared traditional Minoan meals for live audiences of high-profile dinner guests in Crete, the want for a top-notch apron became a need.
She would spend hours gathering wood from the island for her fire...foraging for native asparagus, catching octopus, and curing olives for the meal. She would build her fire and tend the handmade clay pots for hours to produce the perfect experience.
The Burning..Er....Turning Point
It was a labor of love. But, her clothes weren’t loving it. The aprons she had used gave up quickly, singed by nipping flames from the fire and ripped by the range of movement she needed to cook.
Enter her mother, also named Jerolyn (aka J1), a seamstress who helped her craft a hearty leather apron worthy of the work she was doing. Problem solved. The apron was everything she needed, and more.
However, the apron was heavy and bulky, and it restricted her movement. She needed something lighter but equally durable. She also wanted to look good while she wore it. An upgrade was in order, and J1 & J2 got back to work on it.
Together, they chose fine fabrics that could hold up to all kinds of abuse, including frequent washing and drying. They shortened the length to just below the knee. They chose sturdy straps, and they double stitched seams to withstand the rigors of intense culinary use.
They didn’t stop with one apron, they created a whole line. The industrial ine has now become a favorite of restaurants, caterers, and enthusiastic home cooks and grillers alike. J2 still uses these aprons for her al fresco Minoan dinners, most recently while demonstrating for Prince Charles of Wales.
When Functional Aprons Became Fabulous
Returning to her home in Texas, J1 wanted something that could do all of that, but with a more glamorous appearance. Something that fit her personality.
She's preppy, petit, cute, and creative as all get-out. Her hair's done and her makeup's on. She loves fabrics, all kinds, and she fell in love with sparkles when combing through the garment district in New York for inspiration. She connected with a vender of exquisite fabrics for wedding dress and ball gowns.
Feeling and seeing the rich beautiful fabrics, she had the urge to run home and get to work on some equally stunning aprons. She wanted to combine the beauty of a cocktail dress, with the functionality and usability of a JEM apron. She drew designs, ordered fabrics, and got to work. Many hand-wringing hours later, the glam line was born - giving you the apron you can wear to welcome your guests, serve the champagne, clear the table, and wash before you wear at your next soiree.
Sparkling & Shining Brighter Than Ever
You can find J1 in the black Manhattan for cocktail parties, J2 in the caramel duck for cooking (she's partial to the Fran seersucker for hosting), and Jim (husband to J1 and co-founder #3) in camo, when he and the pups are grilling by the pool. That's how we wear JEM aprons—how about you? We want to know! And we hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
