Category: Interviews

1. Interview with....Kimberley Selwood

   Posted on 9:42am Monday 15th Aug 2011

   Kimberley Selwood continues to provide us with incredibly dainty and delectable pieces of jewellery which are loved and collected by customers and staff! She is an inspiring designer who creates distinctive, feminine jewellery collections enriched with texture and detail.....

    

   What's your background and what inspired you to become a jewellery designer?

   I always loved art and as a child I used to play with be ads and make friendship bracelets, so I decided to follow my dream and so went to art college and then took a degree in jewellery design. I graduated 6 years ago with a first class honours in jewellery design and won an award which helped me set up in business.

     

   How would you describe your customers?

   My customers are people who love handmade and special pieces. They enjoy wearing jewellery and cherish things of beauty. My designs appeal to them as they are contemporary and unique, yet timeless and wearable.

    

   What is your favourite piece of jewellery? (either made or purchased)

   My favourite piece of jewellery is my Order in Chaos brooch, it was the first piece I made with gold in my final year of degree and it was the piece that got my first 1st mark.

    

   Which celebrity would you love to wear your jewellery and why?

   I would love Kylie to wear my designs as I think she is such an amazing role model but also very down to earth.

    

   If you hadnt been successful as a designer what would your plan B have been?

   I’m not sure!! I always aim where I want to go and hope for the best. I will come up with a plan B if things change!!!

    

   What can we expect to see from you in the future?

   I am working on high end pieces and want to make more designs in Gold and diamonds, again creating something wearable but unusual.

    

    

    

2. Interview with....Katie Rowland

   Posted on 1:43pm Monday 1st Aug 2011

   This month we interviewed Katie Rowland, winner of the New Designer of the Year at this year's UK Jewellery Awards.  This prestigious and coveted award reflects the best in British jewellery design and Katie Rowland is a well deserved winner!!!    

   

   What's your background and what inspired you to become a jewellery designer?
   I inherited my Aunt Bee's jewellery box of treasure when I was very little, which set off my love for all things sparkly. I think I must have been the only five year old girl who would climb trees in a diamonte necklace, on my street.
   
   My background is in graphic design, before I moved into jewellery at St. Martins. It is what influences the clean lines and shapes in my work.
   
   How would you describe your customers?
   Strong, powerful women who know what they want and know how to get it.
   
   What is your favourite piece of jewellery? (either made or purchased)
   My favourite piece is the St. Tropez knuckle ring in smoky quartz. I launch a new type of knuckle ring each season. It is so elegant as a piece, yet is has a strength to it which I love. Other than that, it is my Grandmother's engagement ring which I inherited. The diamonds have such fire and life about them and whenever I wear it, it reminds me of what a great women she was - full of laughter with a wicked sense of humour.
   
   If you hadnt been successful as a designer what would your plan B have been?
   I think I would have been an artist. I've always been creative and so I have strong desire to make.
   
   What can we expect to see from you in the future?
   I am hugely influenced by female characters in history and myth and I love the femme fatale. Expect to see statement necklaces with an elegant edge and warm rose gold, flesh like tones. Deeply seductive and sensual.

   View some of Katie Rowland's work online now

   

    

    

3. Interview with....Babette Wasserman

   Posted on 9:23am Wednesday 13th Jul 2011

   This months designer interview is with Babette Wasserman. Babette is the designer of the Electra, Amazon and Bamboo collections stocked in store. Each collection is unique and handcrafted to the highest standard. Her status as a designer continues to rise and she was recently shortlisted for the prestigious award of 'Brand of the Year' at this year's UK Jewellery Awards. The awards take place in London this Thursday – goodluck Babette!

   
   

   What's your background and what inspired you to become a jewellery designer?

   BW: I was at Chelsea College of Art and fell in love with sculpture and product design and always had a keen interest in fashion. One of my tutors suggested doing my degree in jewellery which was a logical mix of all the things I loved, so I applied and got a place at Central St Martins School of Art where I did a BA in Jewellery Design.

   How would you describe your customers?

   BW: Our customers range from designer boutiques to large department stores. From a chic jewellery concession on the fourth floor of Harrods’ Way In, to our large cufflinks offering at Selfridges, passing by Isetan Japan to Bloomingdales in the US and of course our lovely designer jewelers UK-wide such as Nude Jewellery in London’s Mayfair, we are proud to have a wonderfully varied and international client base.

   What is your favourite piece of jewellery? (either made or purchased)

   BW: It is difficult to choose one particular piece of jewellery. Each season I launch around 40 pieces of new jewellery and the same in cufflinks. One of my longstanding favourites is the Scarf Lariat. I have recently launch its little sister, Ficelle, a thinner elegant version of the knitted sterling silver Scarf that wraps around the neck just like a scarf. This range is available in silver, rose gold vermeil and yellow gold vermeil with matching bracelets.

   Which celebrity would you love to wear your jewellery and why?

   BW: I would love Angelina Jolie to wear my jewellery – probably the Scarf lariat or multiple Amazon Attraction bracelets stacked in rose gold and yellow gold. I find she has excellent taste, she oozes elegance and glamour effortlessly!

   If you hadn’t been successful as a designer what would your plan B have been?

   BW: I think I would have gone into sculpture. I have always fancied doing a Masters at the Royal College of Art and I love the idea of creating huge public sculptures made from metal.

   What can we expect to see from you in the future?

   BW: this year we have been nominated as ‘Brand of the Year’ at the UK Jewellery Awards 2011, this is the second year in a row that we have been shortlisted which is very exciting! We are expanding our sales distribution further and have just started working with some US Agents. We have an Olympic cufflink collection that will be launched in July and am designing the ring for the new ‘Princess Catherine’ (Kate Middleton) wedding doll which will be launched in Harrods and Hamleys in the next couple of months!