About

GOLDBUG Owner & Designer Ashley Reid Martin moved to Sullivan's Island, SC in 2005 after earning her MFA in Fashion Design from SCAD and spending a stint in NYC. A North Carolina native and UNC grad, Martin immediately fell in love with the relaxed, soul-nourishing lifestyle of island living and knew she had found her place. It’s no surprise that just a few years later she also fell in love with an island boy, whom she married and now shares two kids and three dogs with (Miles, Wrenny, Gus, Rosie, and Bleu).

Laid-back island living, global travel, modern art, and a melting pot of countless other influences have shaped Martin's vision and inspired her to create jewelry that sparks joy and radiates effortless beauty. Imperfections are celebrated as the mark of objects made with love and care, one at a time, by hand, and with soul. Inherently modern and unique, yet inspired by the rawness of the primitive, GOLDBUG jewelry* speaks to a curated but carefree lifestyle.

 

 

In April of 2016, Martin fulfilled her longtime dream and opened a retail shop in the heart of the quaint business district on dreamy Sullivan's Island. In just 80 square feet, she created the world's smallest** coastal lifestyle boutique, featuring her jewelry and other small trinkets and treasures she had collected to complement the pieces. Two years later, she expanded the shop into the space next door and now offers a variety of specialty swimsuits and resort wear, natural beauty products, candles, hand-painted greeting cards, jewelry from intentionally selected small brands, and other eclectic finds. The shop looks like a mini gallery, curated to offer the best selection of island-style adornments and essentials—but don't be fooled, it feels more like a tiki bar where we welcome you in your bare, sandy feet (drink in hand optional) to come browse while you enjoy some lively music, intoxicating scents, and good vibes that fill the air.

 

*All GOLDBUG jewelry is designed and handmade in the South Carolina Lowcountry by Martin herself using 14k gold, 14k gold fill, and sterling silver.

**Not verified