The Cardow Collective is marking its debut with IB Designs, the St. Croix jewelry studio known for its symbolic, handcrafted work. Together, they introduce a refreshed direction for Cardow that centers Caribbean artistry and meaningful connection.
Cardow has stood in downtown Charlotte Amalie for more than 60 years, a landmark woven into the height of St. Thomas’ jewelry era when the island was known as a duty-free destination in the 1980s and 1990s. As the market shifted and consumer interests evolved, Cardow began a transformation that honors its legacy while adapting to shoppers who value authenticity, craftsmanship and locally made products. The Cardow Collective reflects this shift by highlighting Caribbean jewelers within one of the island’s most recognized retail spaces.
The first artisan to participate in this new initiative is IB Designs, founded by jeweler Whaelan Massicott, who has been creating jewelry for 29 years. He and his wife, Kris Massicott, have operated the studio for 26 years, describing their work as feel-good jewelry inspired by nature, cultural influences, and the desire to bring joy through intentional design. The company uses recycled and responsibly sourced metals and produces pieces that emphasize themes such as unity, gratitude, strength, connection and balance. These motifs appear in collections like infinity, lotus, strength, gratitude, pamoja, lavi and karma, which have contributed to the brand’s recognition across the region.
For many years, St. Thomas customers who follow the brand have primarily relied on online orders or mail delivery. Joining the Cardow Collective gives IB Designs a physical presence on the island and a way for clients to see and handle the jewelry in person.
“This opportunity that arose for us to come to Cardow, the only answer that could have been given was yes. Because when moving in a space of gratitude and you are given an opportunity, yes is like honoring the possibilities,” Kris said.
“Being here we feel very grateful for the welcoming and the outpouring of support. We mail jewelry to STT all the time, but now we have a home here that the residents can support locally,” she continued.
“We say we make feel-good jewelers make feel-good jewelry for feel-good people. So we feel like the time is now for us to be on STT,” she added.
Inside Cardow, the IB Designs display features their signature collections along with descriptions of each piece’s intended meaning. The motifs represent values that have long shaped the studio’s work, reflecting influences from nature, cultural symbolism and broader emotional themes within their design philosophy. The materials, finishes and structural details used in their pieces align with the studio’s practice of creating jewelry rooted in intention and crafted by hand.
Through this partnership, IB Designs strengthens its connection with customers across the territory and provides easier access for residents who have supported the brand for years. The collaboration introduces a new experience for shoppers and contributes to the evolving direction of the Cardow Collective.
