Dallas’ creative scene received a vivid jolt of beauty, intention, and cultural pride on Sunday as AND-MADE by Hand hosted its first immersive brand experience, AND-MADE IRL, inside the Golden Black Candle Lounge. The event, created by designer and founder Alexis Daniels, a 2024 Best of Black Dallas Champion, drew longtime customers, new supporters, local makers, and Black women looking for a space that reflected their fullness.

For years, AND-MADE by Hand has existed primarily as a digital brand — known for its bold statement jewelry, spirited color palettes, and the creative universe that Alexus has built online through storytelling and design. On November 9th, that universe leapt off the screen and into real life.

A Vision Rooted in Storytelling

Images Courtesy of — AND-MADE IRL, 2025

Alexis describes herself not only as a designer, but as a “Jewelry Alchemist,” someone who uses color, texture, and form to help women express who they are. Throughout the event, her fingerprints were everywhere: the lighting, the curation, the language printed on the walls, the signature drink menu, and even the way people moved through the room.

“My name is Alexis Daniels, and at my core, I’m a storyteller,” she said. “I use color, texture, and design to help women express themselves. AND-MADE by Hand is my way of pouring love, intention, and imagination back into the world.”

That storytelling found its fullest form at AND-MADE IRL.

A Space Designed to Be Felt, Not Just Seen

While many pop-ups focus on retail, AND-MADE IRL felt more like walking into a living mood board — an intimate, curated world where every detail reflected Alexis’s aesthetic philosophy. The Golden Black Candle Lounge, known for its warm amber lighting and richly textured interior, served as the perfect backdrop.

Images Courtesy of — AND-MADE IRL, 2025

From the moment guests stepped inside, they encountered branded installations, custom scent pairings, handcrafted displays, and photo-ready corners that encouraged exploration. The atmosphere was equal parts gallery, boutique, and gathering place.

“This wasn’t just a pop-up or a market,” Alexis explained. “It was a curated world of AND-MADE — a place where guests could shop, interact, take pictures, sip custom drinks, explore installations, and feel like they stepped inside the aesthetic.”

Guests wandered through the space trying on jewelry, posing for portraits, and connecting with one another over cocktails. Many described the environment as “soft,” “intentional,” and “filled with joy.”

Crafted So Black Women Feel Seen

One of the most striking elements of AND-MADE IRL was how deeply it centered Black women. The brand’s ethos — that Black women deserve beauty, luxury, creativity, and care — was visible in every detail.

Alexis said the intention was clear from the start.

“I wanted to create an environment where Black women could walk in and immediately feel considered and catered to,” she said. “Where the lighting, the service, the music, the language on the walls, the colors, and the energy all spoke to them directly.”

That intention resonated with attendees who often paused simply to take in the space. Some remarked that the experience felt like stepping inside a love letter — one written with them in mind.

Intentional Timing, Intentional Energy

Images Courtesy of — AND-MADE IRL, 2025

The November 9th date wasn’t chosen at random. Alexis selected the moment intentionally to align with the start of the holiday season — a time when many people seek connection, warmth, and meaningful moments.

“The season felt right,” she explained. “People are emotionally ready to reconnect, celebrate, and indulge in something meaningful. I wanted to meet them there.”

The Golden Black Candle Lounge also matched the emotional tone: intimate enough to feel personal, but bold enough to carry the visual weight of her brand’s aesthetic.

A New Standard for Handmade Excellence

While the event lasted just one day, its purpose stretched far beyond a single afternoon. For Alexis, it was a declaration — that handmade artistry deserves high production value, thoughtful execution, and the same quality of experience offered by major retail brands.

“Execution mattered because I didn’t want this to feel average or familiar,” she said. “In our community, we deserve experiences that feel high-touch and well-designed. I wanted to show that a handmade brand can deliver that level of excellence.”

The precision of the event — the signage, the flow, the product staging, the drink stations, the guest guidance — was not decoration. It was storytelling. It was proof of what is possible when artistry is paired with production.

According to Alexis, AND-MADE IRL was more than a milestone; it was a blueprint for what comes next.

“This was a preview of the experiential retail, touring activations, and community-centered events I want to build in the future,” she said. “The success of this wasn’t just about one day — it was about proving that we can create something immersive, beautiful, and culturally rooted, and then scale it with intention.”

As a Best of Black Dallas Champion, Alexis continues to expand the possibilities for what handmade brands in Dallas can be — and how they can serve, celebrate, and uplift Black women.

A Community Moment That Lingers

In the end, AND-MADE IRL was more than an event. It was a cultural moment. It was an invitation to pause, to play, to feel beautiful, to be seen.

And it was a reminder that when Black women design with intention, entire rooms — entire worlds — can transform.

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