While he may still be waiting for a call from Beyonce, Fernando Jorge has been lauded by the media, he’s been awarded countless accolades, and he has been courted by some of the most highly coveted stores in the world. And yet, Fernando continues to be kind, humble and curious, and he remains committed to expressing his voice and representing the current spirit of our time through his jewelry designs. Tune in to learn about Fernando’s initial discovery of jewelry design, his journey to obtaining...
Feb 10, 2021•55 min
Valerie Messika’s high-profile collaborations with Gigi Hadid and Kate Moss are illustrative of this designer’s distinctive ability to appeal to a devout audience of well-heeled and stylish women from across the globe. Born into the diamond trade, Valerie was surrounded by important diamonds from a very young age. In our latest episode of The COUTURE Podcast, Valerie shares with us her vision, her journey, her creative inspirations, and the incredible love story that brought her and her husband ...
Jan 11, 2021•39 min
While it’s now instantly recognizable for its exquisite gemstone, enamel, diamond and high-karat gold jewelry, Buddha Mama had humble beginning at the kitchen table of its founder, Nancy Badia, who decided to string beads in order to raise money for her Buddhist center. In our most recent COUTURE podcast, Nancy and her daughter and co-designer, Dakota, share with us the gradual evolution of their brand, their creative process and their nostalgia for non-stop travel and hole-in-the-wall bars....
Nov 10, 2020•40 min•Ep. 11
For designer Stephen Webster, a normal routine is the absence of routine. He’s perpetually jet-setting across the globe to visit clients and make personal appearances, but when COVID hit, Stephen found himself grounded at home in England. We caught up with Stephen, remotely, to hear about some of his adventures in quarantine, and we also reflected on some of his past experiences, his drive to give back and his dedication to creating a sustainable brand.
Oct 01, 2020•47 min•Ep. 10
Managing partner of Alex Sepkus, Jeff Feero, loves a challenge. Whether it’s finding a solution for a design dilemma, fixing up one of his many vintage cars, or establishing a complex agenda for one of his infamous, annual road trips, solving problems is his creative outlet. Several weeks into sheltering in place due to the pandemic, Jeff started think about how he could keep in touch with his loyal clients, while possibly making some sales along the way. In late May, Jeff purchased a vintage ca...
Sep 10, 2020•50 min•Ep. 9
The venerable design house, Oscar Heyman, has been continuously operating since 1912. Still family-owned, Oscar Heyman makes magnificent jewelry utilizing the finest gemstones sourced from around the globe and has designed for maisons such as Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. We spoke with Tom Heyman and learned about the collaborative process involved in making each of its exquisite designs, including a bespoke piece created for one of the world’s most famous jewelry lovers, Elizabeth Taylor....
Jul 24, 2020•37 min•Ep. 8
With his proud Italian heritage, artist Mattia Cielo wants his brand to speak to a new generation of jewelry aficionados. His collection is his dream, and he wants to share his dream with the industry. Mattia is steadfast in his belief that fine jewelry is transcendent, that it represents unity and is symbolic of human resilience and strength. We were thrilled to talk to Mattia via Skype about his work and life experiences, his beautiful designs, and his unrelenting zest for life.
Jun 17, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 7
Fashion correspondent Lynn Yaeger is a well-known fixture within the global fashion scene. Touted as one of the industry’s most influential people, Lynn has long been the muse of several prominent fashion designers. Lynn is also a NYC institution. With her distinctive, iconic look, Lynn garners attention wherever she goes. We were so excited to speak with Lynn, remotely, to talk about her rise to prominence, her penchant for collecting, and her recent discovery of her love for contemporary jewel...
May 20, 2020•33 min•Ep. 6
Artist Bibi van der Velden considers herself first and foremost a sculptor. Her primary artistic medium informs her sublime jewelry designs in many ways, including her drive to create pieces that don't need a "body" to become something. A lifelong collector, Bibi's jewelry transcends the expected and often incorporates unique and unusual materials, giving her work a sense of adventure and discovery. We were so happy to have a Skype conversation with Bibi to discuss her designs, Auverture designe...
Apr 29, 2020•37 min•Ep. 5
As the implications of the COVID-19 situation became apparent, and we ultimately had to cancel our 2020 event, our resolve to keep this community connected, in whatever way we can, was only strengthened. While we’re definitely going to release our previously recorded episodes at some point, hopefully in the near future, we decided to move forward with capturing some voices remotely. We want to know how people in our community are faring during these difficult and uncertain times, where they’re p...
Apr 16, 2020•15 min•Ep. 4
For the past 17 years Julez Bryant has been helping women feel empowered through her designs, her mentorship and her advocacy. Julez has faced and overcome a lot of adversity in her life and she's learned countless lessons along the way; looking at the challenges she faced as an opportunity to enrich her character. We were delighted to have a Skype conversation with Julez to discuss how she is dealing with the current challenges we are all facing, how she is running her business amidst the globa...
Apr 14, 2020•57 min•Ep. 3
Michelle Orman sits down with COUTURE Director, Gannon Brousseau, to discuss exactly why the world needs another podcast, and why they’re excited about highlighting the incredible COUTURE community.
Apr 01, 2020•11 min
The work of artist Victor Velyan is instantly recognizable. His proprietary patina process is utterly unique and distinctive and serves as a perfect canvas for the array of colored gemstones he incorporates into many of his designs. Victor also has a reputation of being a bit of a rockstar, and often makes sartorial choices that draw attention and invite comments and compliments. We were thrilled to sit down and talk to Victor about his design process, his background as a rockstar, and his passi...
Mar 17, 2020•37 min•Ep. 2
In the last few years, the name Spinelli Kilcollin has become synonymous with chic, contemporary, and sophisticated design. And while it might seem to those on the outside that the brand achieved overnight success, its founders, Yves Spinelli & Dwyer Kilcollin, had been working for years to try to convince stores to get behind their functionality meets design concept. We were delighted to sit down with Yves & Dwyer to hear more about their journey, their secret talents, and their secret ...
Feb 10, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 1
