Bootleg Silver Co. was built at the intersection of heritage, craftsmanship, and the belief that the objects we carry can become part of our personal story.

Founder and artist Suzette Meyers grew up between the mountains of Idaho and the deserts of Arizona, surrounded by ranching, handmade craftsmanship, and generations of Western tradition. Her journey into metalsmithing began in a high school jewelry and metals program in Mesa, Arizona, where she first learned to transform raw materials into objects meant to last.

The deeper influence, however, came from her grandfather Merle—a rancher, folk artist, metalsmith, and leatherworker whose hands were rarely still. Long after the cattle were tended and the ranch work was done, he continued creating at his workbench. His belief that craftsmanship carried meaning became the foundation of what would later become Bootleg Silver Co.

For more than two decades, Suzette built a career in nonprofit administration, business development, public affairs, and organizational leadership, working alongside luxury hospitality, healthcare organizations, higher education, foundations, nonprofits, and community leaders. Those relationships provided firsthand insight into the people and institutions dedicated to building lasting legacies.

Returning to Arizona and the metalsmithing bench brought those two worlds together. Today, Bootleg Silver Co. creates heirloom-quality jewelry alongside its Legacy Partnerships program, collaborating with organizations and private clients to design handcrafted commissions that celebrate milestones, recognize leadership, honor philanthropy, and preserve stories for future generations.

Every piece is individually forged, fabricated, and finished in the Bootleg Silver Co. studio using sterling silver, gold accents, artisan-cut natural stones, and hand-finished details. Many of the Jadeite and natural stones featured throughout the collection are personally sourced, carved, and polished by Suzette, bringing traditional lapidary craftsmanship together with contemporary Western design.

At the heart of Bootleg Silver is the Desert Bloom Collection—an original exploration of Type A Jadeite through a Southwestern lens. Pairing heirloom-quality Jadeite with American turquoise creates a dialogue between two materials rarely seen together, united by craftsmanship, history, and place.

A GIA-certified jade specialist described the collection this way:

"I've loved jade since I first encountered it, but seeing it worked in a completely original way—independent of traditional Asian influence—is rare. Paired with these materials, it feels as though they've always belonged together."

Today, Bootleg Silver represents more than a single artist. With daughter Kadance apprenticing as a junior metalsmith, the studio reflects the passing of knowledge, craftsmanship, and family tradition from one generation to the next. Together, they are building a modern Western legacy rooted in family, stone, and metal.

Every piece begins with a story. Every stone carries a history. Every design is created to become part of someone else's legacy.

LEGACY IN METAL. HERITAGE IN STONE.