It seems to be that we’re currently having a major jewellery moment. Whether it’s DEA Jewellery’s striking AW17 collection or Tatiana Berenguer’s beautiful designs, in the past few weeks we’ve been adding quite a few contemporary luxury labels to our jewellery box (it looks like our treasure chest might just hold a few prized possessions this season). Amongst all those highly covetable names, we have one more name to add to our list – Venessa Arizaga.
Based in New York, the eponymous jewellery label thrives on one-of-a-kind, unique designs, all handmade in the studio in Brooklyn (the incredible craftsmanship & artisanal knowledge is reflected in each piece). Combining a fun, playful aesthetic with a sense of timeless elegance, Venessa‘s designs transcend the barriers of seasonal trends to create statement pieces, which you will treasure for a while. Intrigued by the label’s ethos & journey, we sat down with Venessa to discover her sources of inspiration, the impact of social media on her label & her closet essentials.
The Venessa Arizaga Journey
Venessa: I had a very long love affair with the fashion industry working at Carolina Herrera and Zac Posen. I made jewelry as a hobby. I wore a piece one day to a Bergdorf Goodman event and Roopal Patel (Senior Women’s Fashion Director at Bergdorf Goodman at the time) stopped me and asked me to come and show my collection. She ended up buying the line. It’s been a crazy ride for the past 7 years but I’m learning something new and growing every day.
The Many Sources of Inspiration
Venessa: I start brainstorming and researching by going to the library and museum, then I like to work on colors and threads. I’ll spend some tweaking colors, textures and color balance. As for charms, we like to make special charms that evoke the collections. We would sometimes make a sample in polymer clay so it can be replicate in ceramic porcelain.
The Impact of Social Media
Venessa: Social media has been an important part of VA. It’s like the 2017 version of “word of mouth” and a simple post can make a huge impact. It also allows me to connect with my customer base and find out what they like!
A Usual Day In The Life of Venessa
Venessa: I’m very hands on and like to be involved in every aspect of my business – so each day is different. I’d be designing the new collection one day, and the next I’d be in market meeting with buyers and showing them the new styles. Another day, I’d be working with the production team to make sure we meet all our deliveries. It’s a lot of different things but it keeps me on my toes!
Venessa’s Closet Essentials & Seasonal ‘Must-Haves’
Venessa: I’m all about a great pair of blue jeans. You can never go wrong with it! I do a lot of running around work so I usually wear a cool pair of sneakers.
The Insider Tip To Aspiring Designers
Venessa: If you have an idea, go with it. If it fails, you tried it. It can always turn into something great after a a couple (or a lot) of tweaks. Do not give up!
