Key takeaways
• INOX Men’s Jewelry launched the ‘Est. 1776’ collection to celebrate the upcoming 250th anniversary of America, drawing inspiration from the brand’s hometown of Norwalk, Connecticut.
• The collection’s signature Yankee Doodle Pendant is inspired by Captain Thomas Fitch V, the historical figure whose Connecticut militia were the original subjects of the “”Yankee Doodle”” song.
• The jewelry features American iconography like eagles and stars, and is available nationwide as well as through the Norwalk Historical Society to support local history.
(NORWALK, CONN.) – As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, Norwalk-based men’s jewelry brand INOX is looking to its own hometown for inspiration.
The company has launched Est. 1776, a new collection celebrating the people, stories, and symbols that helped shape America. At the heart of the collection is the Yankee Doodle Pendant, inspired by Captain Thomas Fitch V of Norwalk, the historical figure closely associated with the origins of one of America’s most recognizable patriotic songs. Most Americans know Yankee Doodle as a childhood song. Few know it began as a British insult aimed at Connecticut militia during the French and Indian War.
British Army surgeon Dr. Richard Shuckburgh is widely credited with writing the original song after encountering Captain Thomas Fitch and his men. The lyrics mocked the colonial soldiers as unsophisticated “Yankee Doodles,” poking fun at everything from their appearance to the feather in their hats.
History, however, had other plans.
Rather than reject the nickname, the colonists embraced it. By the time of the American Revolution, Yankee Doodle had transformed from a song of ridicule into a rallying cry of independence, becoming one of America’s earliest symbols of resilience, pride, and the uniquely American habit of turning criticism into strength.
For INOX, the story hit close to home.
Headquartered in Norwalk for nearly two decades, the company worked with Diane Jellerette, Executive Director of the Norwalk Historical Society, to research Captain Thomas Fitch and the remarkable local history surrounding the Yankee Doodle legend. The discovery became the inspiration behind the collection’s signature piece.
“Yankee Doodle is the ultimate American comeback story,” said Sebastian Velasquez, Brand Manager for INOX Men’s Jewelry. “What started as an insult became a badge of honor. As a company that designs jewelry around stories worth wearing, we couldn’t think of a better symbol to represent the American spirit, especially one that began right here in our hometown.”
The Est. 1776 collection features understated interpretations of American iconography, including eagles, stars, hidden flag details, and Revolutionary-era symbolism. Designed in Norwalk and unveiled at JCK Las Vegas, the jewelry industry’s largest trade show, the collection is available through authorized INOX jewelry retailers nationwide. The Yankee Doodle Pendant is also available through the Norwalk Historical Society gift shop, giving visitors the opportunity to take home a wearable piece of local history.
More than a patriotic collection, Est. 1776 is a celebration of the people and stories that continue to define America. For INOX, there was no better place to begin than Norwalk, home to the man whose nickname became part of the nation’s identity.
