The Origin of VelHaus Collective
The Back Story
What if a brand could be both velvet and steel? Soft and sensorial but backed by strategy, substance, and soul?
VelHaus Collective was born from that question and the career of Jenny Howard-Maxwell, a powerhouse in the marketing and events space with over 25 years of experience turning visions into visceral experiences.
Jenny made her mark through Occasionally Fabulous Events, where she planned everything from wine festivals and culinary tours to international destination meetings in Italy. But events were never just about parties. For her, they were platforms for connection, storytelling, and profit. She became known for her uncanny ability to translate brand identity into memorable, ROI-driven experiences. As her work grew more strategic, her lens widened beyond events into the full creative ecosystem: branding, marketing, partnerships, and PR.
And then came the itch.
A desire to build something bigger not just a company, but a creative house. A brand that could hold everything she was and everything she was becoming. That brand became VelHaus Collective.
What's in a Name?
VelHaus is a made-up word, but its meaning runs deep.
- Vel evokes velvety textures, smooth, sophisticated, and luxurious. It’s the feeling of a flawlessly executed campaign, a perfect first impression, or a brand story that wraps around you like silk.
- Haus, borrowed from German and used frequently in fashion, reflects Jenny’s love for design and her obsession with style as strategy. “Haus” gives structure, a nod to creativity with discipline.
The ä is purely aesthetic, a little flourish, a wink. It doesn’t change the meaning. It changes the mood. It adds a layer of European chic, something elevated, almost editorial. It’s what sets VelHaus apart: it’s not expected. It’s intentionally extra.
Together, VelHaus means “the home where creativity lives and ideas are built.”
It’s a studio. It’s a stage. It’s a collective of collaborators, creators, and strategists who think bigger than campaigns or events, they think experiences that move people and move markets
The Collective
VelHaus Collective isn’t just a brand it’s a network of the best minds in marketing, events, creative, and PR. We build flexible teams based on your needs. Whether you're launching a product, reimagining a brand, producing a large-scale event, or simply need help getting unstuck, we show up with big ideas and even bigger execution.
Our clients are luxury lifestyle brands, tech companies, hospitality visionaries, and ambitious start-ups. What they all have in common? They want more than a vendor. They want a partner and collaborator one that can bring their brand to life across every channel and every touchpoint.
VelHaus Collective is where strategy meets style, and vision becomes reality. It’s where your next big idea finds a home.
