Our Blog
Catbird Spotlight: Chelsea Mak
"Like if Norma Kamali skipped cotillion to go to a punk show and then met her godfather for dim sum the next morning before reporting for work in her 80s power suit," is how LA based designer Chelsea Mak describes her eponymous clothing line. How does she wear her own work? "The more unexpected the combination the better...with good jewelry, like all my Catbird pieces!"
effortless dress is a balancing act inspired by Chelsea’s childhood
I was born and raised in LA but spent a large part of my childhood in Hong Kong and Taiwan where my parents are from, living in Hong Kong from ages 2 to 6 and then visiting every summer thereafter.
Being connected to both LA and Hong Kong definitely made such impressions on my style. From LA it was the laid-back casual way of dressing, I learned from early on that even if you spent hours putting an outfit together it should come across like it took you seconds. From Hong Kong it was the opposite — flip flops and jeans might be considered sloppy so it was a balancing act to exist in both worlds which has translated through my designs — a balancing act between old and new world, high and low brow, east and west.
dressing for this newest spring we’ve been waiting for
I’m really into the idea of using the Vienna Blouse as a light jacket over everything and the more unexpected the combination the better. I have a floor length muslin slip dress I’d like to wear over it as well as a vintage Norma Kamali piece that’s a white cotton onesie; over jeans and nude bodysuit would be cool too. All with good jewelry, like all my Catbird pieces!
what you can’t stop imagining is worth the pursuit.
Striking out on my own felt a lot like jumping off a cliff unplanned for. At the time I was working for a brand I believed in, a boss I looked up to and co-workers I loved also but I could not stop thinking about what the main label of the brand would look like if I started one. There were so many huge unknowns but I knew that I wouldn’t have been happy if I stayed where I was so I took the plunge. It was very scary for the first few months but also very exciting.
The Vienna, Amalia and Gallery blouses are the core pieces in the line so designing a new collection will always feel a bit like building out a wardrobe around those three pieces. Since they are all quite feminine and bold and in the classic silk white taffeta, I like the other pieces to be more masculine, unassuming and offbeat.
A large part of the collection is made from deadstock silks found at the fabric market in Shanghai so those qualities very much dictate how each collection will look. I also find a lot of inspiration in old movies, books, and bands so each of my collections will usually reflect how I was feeling during that moment in time.
How Our Team Wears Chelsea Mak & Catbird
"I want women wearing Chelsea Mak to command a type of attention that you wouldn’t get from other brands, it’s more about feeling smart and interesting than sexy and showy.Women who wear Chelsea Mak are creative, well-read and in the know and that’s a lot of us!"
Airina wears the Gallery Blouse with a Dollhouse Locket slung on a Tinsel Chain paired with a Sweet Nothing Choker and a Snow Queen Ear Climber.
Mariela wears the Amalia Blouse with the Baby Pearl Supreme Hoops.
Necklaces: Magic Moonstone Collar, Silver Sweet Nothing Choker and the Sleeping Beauty Necklace in White Gold.Tatiana wears the Jaffe Top with a slew of Catbird Classics.
Earrings: Snow Queen Hoop, Heart Stud, Little Secret
Necklaces: Gumball Pearl Charm, 18th Century Bow Charm, Anemone Charm on a Sweet Nothing Choker.
Chelsea's Shopping Edit
Catbird Spotlight: Borah
Meet Borah, she is part of our small and mighty and wildly creative in-house design team. A trained architect turned jeweler with over a decade in the business, she shares her full circle Catbird moment, places of inspiration, and a hint (!) at something the design team has been working on, coming soon - we promise!
How long have you worked at Catbird?
Coming up on two years in May!
Hometown:
I grew up in Westchester but have lived in Brooklyn for the past 15 years
What neighborhood do you live in?
Clinton Hill
What originally got you interested in jewelry?
When I was little I LOVED going into my mom’s jewelry box and looking at all the pieces she collected over her lifetime. Each piece had a story like a small artifact from that moment in her life. I fell in love with the idea that a charm could bring back memories of childhood or an old love. It’s still my favorite thing about what I do, it’s like creating tokens for future memories.
When you are at the jeweler's bench, which piece is your favorite to make?
I feel like I should say one of our more sparkly pieces like the Snow Queen Ring or the Unicorn Horseshoe but I really love making Threadbares! There’s something so meditative about the soldering and hammering. Each one carries the imprint of its maker and when I worked in the store, I loved seeing the way our customers wore them : one on every finger, a stack of 20, the most delicate wedding band… They’re also one of the first pieces our jewelers learn to make which is really special!
What piece are you excited about right now?
It’s an oldie but I’m ALWAYS excited about the Greco Lariat. It looks amazing on everyone and looks great both layered and on its own. And I’m extremely excited about an upcoming collaboration we’re working on with an extraordinary artist!
Where do you look for design inspiration?
New York City is always serving up inspiration. I am a subway ride away from some of the best museums in the world -The Met, MoMA, The Noguchi Museum, The Photo Archives at The New York Public Library. It is the setting of some of my favorite movies from the 70s through the 90s. I’m inspired by the things that stand here and feel like they will be fixed forever and by those that pass through--the rain running down your face while you do a midnight run to the bodega.
What is your favorite material to work with?
I love a good glowy moonstone.
What's your favorite part of the design process?
I love the moments right after we’ve gotten a new project or a design briefing. It feels boundless. It’s like word association but with jewelry…this kind of stream of consciousness designing where most of it makes absolutely no sense but some of it could *possibly* be something worth exploring further. It’s always interesting to see where the freedom of just throwing things out there will take you.
Describe your journey to Catbird! (Your backgrond and how you learned your craft.)
I've been making jewelry out of anything I could get my hands on for as long as I can remember (clay, candy wrappers, office supplies, you name it) but for one reason or another, it never occurred to me that it could be a career. It was like it was too much fun to be taken seriously. I wound up going to school for architecture and by my third year, was completely burnt out. My friend got me a job at a jewelry studio he was working at in the East Village because I couldn’t bear another summer internship behind a computer and it was there that I realized that making jewelry for a living was a very real possibility. I was so deliriously happy in that sweaty basement on 9th Street that I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life. I left school not too long after to start my own line however a couple years in I was questioning my decision and thinking about going back to school to finish my architecture degree when Leigh (Catbird’s co-creative director) reached out on Etsy to ask me about carrying my line in the store. I knew about Catbird (obviously…having been a jewelry obsessed person living in Brooklyn) and after texting all caps messages to every contact in my phone and having a celebratory mid morning alcoholic beverage, I took it as a sign that I was on the right path. I had my line for 6 years and have since worked in a number of jewelry studios and have held just about every position that exists. Being able to be at Catbird doing what I love, 10 years after they unknowingly gave me that boost of confidence to keep me doing that very thing is such a surreal and beautiful full circle moment.
What do you love about living and working in Brooklyn?
I’ve gone to school, worked and lived in the same neighborhood for 15 years. My first apartment in Brooklyn was in a loft across the street from the Navy Yard and years later, one of my first jewelry studios was in that same building with a couple friends that own a furniture company who are now operating out of the same building Catbird is in at the Navy Yard. There’s just something about this community that draws in and keeps creators and creatives. The support that small businesses give each other is so uplifting and it’s so motivating to be around so many people who value creative fulfillment. I honestly don't know if my path in life would've been the same had I lived anywhere else.
Best neighborhood spots near the Brooklyn Navy Yard?
Oh man, there are SO MANY good restaurants in Fort Greene…Olea, La Rina, Colonia Verde…I’m also a sucker for a dive and Alibi is one of the best (worst?).
Borah's Picks
Designer Spotlight: A.M. Thorne
Founded by Ashley Thorne and based in Washington D.C. and NYC, A.M. Thorne is a line of delicate, yet strong minimalist jewelry. Ashley's pieces are influenced by architecture, art, femininity, and light. We are so happy to carry A.M. Thorne, and really enjoyed learning more about her creative process and history with jewelry.
Read our interview with Ashley below, and prepare yourself for some moonstone & gray diamond delights! <3
Did you have a career before jewelry design, or was it the first thing you did?
Before designing jewelry, I worked in graphic design and did freelance design work. I didn’t push for a career in graphic design because it didn’t excite me and that stopped me in my tracks. I started managing an eco-friendly, mid-century home store in downtown Brooklyn and that was a great time! I developed an amazing relationship with the two female owners, and they gave me lots of encouragement to pursue my jewelry passion. It was great to get the insight on running a business even though it was very different from a jewelry one. As their business grew into refinishing mid-century furniture it was great because the store also had a workshop in the back. I got to work and also have a space to put my jewelry workbench. A lot of time was spent in that shop and it helped me perfect my craft and motivate me to dive into my business.
What originally sparked your interest in pursuing jewelry design? And where did you learn the craft?
I remember having a hard time finding simple everyday fine jewelry I wanted to wear. I had recently graduated college, so I couldn’t afford very much. As a creative outlet I began making jewelry and going into places like Metalliferous in NYC collecting materials to create pieces. One day I had a ring design and I couldn’t imagine how to make it. I was recommended by a jewelry friend to take a class at The Jewelry Arts Inc. in Midtown Manhattan. I took my first metalsmithing jewelry course there and fell madly in love. I also took wax carving at Liloveve in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. So much of what I learned was through trial and error and lots of late nights creating.
Where do you look for inspiration for your designs?
I always fall deep into a rabbit hole gazing at ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian jewelry. I particularly love looking at ancient gold jewelry for inspiration and modernizing it. When I can pair hints of detail, I love using granules, an ancient technique you will find in lots of jewelry. A big part of my inspiration also comes from the stone. I keep my jewelry very clean, classic, and minimal so that the stone can be the center of attention.
What are your favorite stones to work with and why?
I’m completely enamored by inclusions in diamonds and the adularescence of moonstone. When I started making jewelry, I wasn’t concerned with using gemstones. I wanted to be very careful about what types of stones I used. I didn’t know everything about the mining process, but I knew I wanted to use conflict-free diamonds. Once I found a source, I discovered salt + pepper diamonds which I have stuck with. No two diamonds are alike, each stone has its own characteristic that reminds us of the natural beauty found in nature. Moonstones come in a variety of hues and shades and I think many moonstones go unnoticed. I love catering to the people who love moonstones as much as I do and want something a little less common.
What does jewelry mean to you?
To me jewelry is an extension of our self-expression. Jewelry can be a symbol of love, family or simply personal style. Jewelry is here to embellish our look, make us happy or remind us of something dear to our hearts. I think of jewelry as a future artifact leaving its mark of a time for other humans to find someday.
What jewelry do you wear every day? What are your ‘uniform’ pieces?
My uniform piece right now is the Gray Diamond Necklace. I recently have layered it with the Peach Moonstone Necklace just on a longer chain. I sleep in them and they are just a part of me now. I also wear an assortment of rings, my favorite being a beautiful 1960s Peridot ring my grandmother used to wear.
If you weren’t a jeweler, what would you like to do for work, or with your time?
If I weren’t a jeweler, I would dream of being a horticulturist or flower and herb farmer. I’d want to grow fields of beautiful flowers and healing herbs for people.
What is one of your favorite pieces to make?
My favorite piece to make in the Catbird collection is the Gray Diamond Necklace. I absolutely love hand selecting stones since no two salt and pepper diamonds are alike. I never get tired of gazing into these stones and picking out ones I think have unique beauty and luster.
What is your relationship to light and color? Your work is so luminous, and your stones so intentional in palette.
My relationship to light and color has been very thoughtful. I started using salt and pepper diamonds but realized I wanted to bring in more color. I was drawn to moonstone. I can’t tell if I chose it or if it chose me. Initially I only thought about rainbow moonstone and soon discovered moonstone comes in shades of brown, grey, green, white and peach. I find them soothing and overall very grounding.
Can you tell us what New York means to you? We know you went to Pratt!
New York for me is where I became an adult. It is where I made lifelong friends and it is where I started my journey into the jewelry world. Growing up in Washington, DC I never spent much time in NYC until I did a pre-college program at Parsons. After that I knew I belonged in NYC and decided to go to Pratt Institute since it had a more intimate campus vibe. Going to school in NYC made me a shoo-in New Yorker.
How has your business changed during the pandemic?
My business has changed a lot during the pandemic. People are still getting engaged, wanting to buy gifts or treat themselves to something they will enjoy. Jewelry may not be a necessity, but it can definitely lift your spirits and bring comfort. Now more than ever it seems people are being more responsible about who and what they are supporting. As a small jewelry brand, it brings me so much gratitude that I can help bring a little wearable sparkle to the planet.
What do you hope customers feel when they look at and wear your pieces?
I hope customers feel uplifting joy and connected to the earth in some way when they look at and wear my pieces.
Do you have a dream client?
My dream client knows when to stop and feel the breeze pass by and notice her surroundings. She is creative, carefree, inquisitive and divine. My dream client is feminine, she makes everything she touches beautiful. She is slightly understated when it comes to her style, but she has her go to brands she has sought out and is loyal to. She loves chic style that is comfortable and feels confident about investing in things she can wear every day.
Shop A.M. Thorne
Catbird Spotlight - Leith Clark
Our friend and collaborator Leith Clark makes dreamscapes out of lots of work. We've asked her to share some of what she's been watching and thinking about this holiday season, so we can share them with you, our friends and collaborators. She also sent a list of her London and New York favorites - we'll send those along once London is back from lockdown. Until then, enjoy all of these, which can be enjoyed from wherever you are!
taken at the Ritz Paris, November 2020
1. Following @savefamilyphotos
2. Your Silence Will Not Protect You, Audre Lorde published by Silver Press
3. Peaceful Girl with Fist Charm
4. Autumn Sonata, Ingmar Bergman
5. Art in an Emergency, Olivia Laing
6. After Hours Candle
7. Ribbon Ear Climber with DiamondLEITH'S TIP FOR STYLING JEWELRY
Mix old with new and high with low. And be sure to find, make or buy a beautiful home for it all
Wear with silk pyjamas or barefoot in dresses. Lately, I live in black Pierrot pyjamas from Sleeper.
Meet the Team!
Greetings from our jewelry experts! Our Catbird mavens who can deftly whip up the perfect stack (no matter the budget), find the perfect gift (no matter the budget), and generally make sure you walk away from your virtual styling session with a smile (no budget needed!)
How would you describe your style?
It ranges from casual / fun to extravagant depending on my mood!
Your jewelry uniform:
Always earrings! I almost never take mine off but will change them up every once in a while. Also my welded bracelets and my Pas de Deux Ring.
Favorite pairing:
So many options to choose from! My current favorite ring pairing is my Pas De Deux Ring with the Beacen Ring, Mother of Pearl nestled on top.
At the top of your wishlist:
Snow Queen Ring in yellow gold
Any styling tips or tricks?
I love adding charms to my earring stacks. You can add a charm to the (small) Hoop Dream Earring so easily! I love putting the Mermaid's Treasure Charm, the Gentle Spider Charm, or the Met Button Souvenir Charm on mine.
How would you describe your style?
Colorful & out there - a mix of Catbird and vintage pieces
Your jewelry uniform:
So. many. stacking rings. Top knuckle rings are a must!
Favorite pairing:
Grand Mignon Ring with anything: Twisted Stacker, Threadbare, and Classic Hammered
At the top of your wishlist:
Any styling tips or tricks?
Fasten your necklaces a couple of inches in between when you layer them, like the 1976 Choker, then the Greco Lariat, then a longer one like the Adjustable Sweet Nothing Chain. This can help with tangling!
How would you describe your style?
My style is colorful and fun, I like really classic yellow gold jewelry because it looks so good with all the bright colors in my wardrobe.
Your jewelry uniform:
My welded bracelets (1976 and Sweet Nothing) , my 1976 Chain, my Still Life stack (see below!) and my Tomboy thumb ring. Also I always wear my small Hoop Dream earrings with little YG chams :)
Favorite pairing:
Twisted Stacker, Still Life Ruby Ring, Twisted Stacker, and Threadbare in that order :)
At the top of your wishlist:
Beacon Ring Salt and Pepper by Laurie Fleming, Painters Blue Ring by Jennie Kwon, and the Met Button Charm
Any styling tips or tricks?
When my fingers get a little swollen in summer or in general, I put my Classic Hammered and Mignon Memory knuckle rings on my 1976 Chain as a cute charm :)
How would you describe your style?
Colorful and fun but always comfortable!
Your jewelry uniform:
Lots of stacking rings and top knuckles, Diamond Kitten Mitten, Greco Lariat Earring, gold Ear Cuff, a tangle of welded bracelets...the more sparkle the better :)
Favorite pairing:
Pearl Buffet Ring with a Twisted Stacker, Baby Cygnet on top of another Twisted Stacker and Grand Mignon Candy Flower Choker with a Sweet Nothing and 1976 Choker.
At the top of your wishlist:
Celestial Rose Earring & a Diamond Baguette Hoop
Any styling tips or tricks?
I like to thread my Greco Lariat earring through a piercing that already has a stud in for an unexpected, fun look! My mentality is the more the better, I love mixing textures, lengths and materials to create the perfect jumbled, sparkly look depending on my mood and outfit!
How would you describe your style?
70s influenced! Love to mix my mom's vintage pieces with my Catbird collection
Your jewelry uniform:
My Sweet Nothing Choker and 1976 Choker never come off. Along with 3 Yellow Gold Threadbare Rings + my Famous Letter Ring with "Boone" engraved for my pup :)
Favorite pairing:
Dewdrop Ring paired with 2 Classic Hammered Rings and a Twisted Stacker
At the top of your wishlist:
How would you describe your style?
Classic and a little edgy!
Your jewelry uniform:
Lots of stacking rings, my 5 gold bracelets (two on one wrist, three on the other), a 1976 Chain and a flurry of earrings.
Favorite pairing:
1976, Sweet Nothing and Tiny Corsage bracelets all together on one wrist - makes the most beautiful mess.
At the top of your wishlist:
The Caravaggio necklace and ring, both in ruby. Also, a Little Lift Diamond Stacking Ring to fit in between a stack of Threadbares!
Any styling tips or tricks?
Put two earrings in a single piercing hole (if there's space for it!) This works best when pairing a stud with some kind of threader earring.
How would you describe your style?
Neutral colors with cute accessories
Your jewelry uniform:
Sweet Nothing Choker, Bracelet, and Anklet, I love a sweet nothing!
Favorite pairing:
Greco Lariat with a 1976 Choker
At the top of your wishlist:
Any styling tips or tricks?
Don’t be afraid of mixing metals!
Shop Their Favorites
Beauty Spotlight: The Best Kind Q+A
Read More
We are so happy to introduce The Best Kind - a skincare line developed by John-Charles Baucom! John-Charles created The Best Kind with the mission of making luxury, quality self care products accessible. (And fun fact! He got his wife's wedding ring from our Wedding Annex!) See our full Q&A with John-Charles below, and shop The Best Kind’s body, hair, face, and lip butters right here!
A Quick Drawing Session with Regina Yazdi (The Artist Behind Our Swans!)
Our dear friend and artist, Regina Yazdi who created our iconic swans (you'll find them everywhere - on our tote bags, on our postcards, on our tissue paper, we love them so!) was kind enough to film a quick swan tutorial for all of us! Join us in drawing along - and send us your swans (DM us, email us, text us!) we'd love to see your work :)
Designer Q & A : Anthony Lent
Anthony Lent is a master jeweler with 50 years of experience at the jeweler’s bench. From studying the grand traditions of goldsmithing in Europe, to serving as head of the jewelry department at FIT (where he taught many of our own in-house jewelers), Tony’s surreal, figural work brings a sense of play and humor to our Catbird world. Get a closer look at his designs by visiting our Wedding Annex or Bedford Ave locations! Not in New York? Our concierge team is happy to help with extra photos galore!
What does jewelry mean to you?
Simply put, jewelry is my blank page to play, spin, and weave visions and tales.
Where do you look for inspiration for your designs?
Inspiration can be found everywhere! Everywhere from the history of art to the squirrels on the trees outside of my window, Today the vein structure of some dried leaves on my table is driving me to make some gold critters on a leaf.
Who is the Man in the Moon?
Science has answered that as best they can for now. For me he is the doorway to dreams and fantasy of another time and place. I like to refer to my particular iteration as The Moon of The Collective Unconscious because although he is an original sculpture, the face is something we have all seen before and just seems to fit.
What originally sparked your interest in goldsmithing?
I was a sculpture student at Philadelphia College of Art when I discovered the drawings and designs of Albrecht Duerer. The other renaissance jewelers and their metal work attracted me to the world of classical goldsmithing.
What was your favorite thing about teaching?
Retirement! I do miss the interactions with students. The legacy of my many years of teaching and seeing so many former students having success in the jewelry industry make me feel good.
What is the symbolism of the hands in your jewelry? And are they modeling after something? Or someone?
Hands are one of the instruments that define us as human. The neolithic cave paintings in France have images of and using hands, the art of almost every culture has drawn painted, and sculpted hands in every form. My hands are sculpted from various models. One of the more interesting pieces is we have copied a little girls hands in an old analogue process, and reduced them for a tiny hands earring design.
The hands in your work are often wearing jewelry -- do you wear jewelry?
No I do not.
The texture of the scales of the Gold Ouroboros Snake Ring is incredibly detailed! How did you create this when you were modeling the ring?
The scales on my serpents and snakes are an act of insane demand for surface detail, and frankly a compulsion; I can not stop carving them once I start! I say I will not do that again but I fall into the abyss of carving scales under a microscope far too often. The detail is achieved by not just carving into the wax but actually making process molds where I can refine a silver model and engrave the sharper details with much more precision. The unique look on my snakes is a result of that process.
What is one of your favorite pieces to make?
One of my all time favorite pieces is the One Hand Band. I love this piece because it is so hard to use a hands motif in jewelry that has not been seen before. I feel that this is one of the most unique uses of that motif.
What do you hope customers feel when they look at and wear your pieces?
I hope they smile and say hello to a long relationship with the pieces and become life long collectors. I hope they see my jewelry as not just an accessory but also a work of art worthy of becoming an heirloom.
Q & A with Rony!
Hi - it's Rony (the Founder of Catbird). This is the first time I've ever done an Ask Me Anything, and I'm so excited! We had a LOT of incoming questions on Instagram, so unfortunately I wasn't able to answer them all. But we will definitely do this again -- transparency is a top priority here at Catbird. So stay tuned, and without further ado - let's get to it!
Q: Please tell us the story behind the name “Catbird?”
A: I was a graphic designer and wanted a name that looked good and could change with time. I got it from this beautiful Audubon poster and thought it was such a sweet name.
Q: How many people work at Catbird?
A: 140 right now – it’s extra because of the holidays!
Q: Is it possible to work at Catbird? Need experience? How can we do it?
A: Check out our careers page! Hot tip - at the bottom it says “If you are interested in joining our team but don’t see a position listed that you are suited for please email us!”
Q: How’d you fund early prospect designs? How’d you get into fine jewelry without training?
Q: How do you balance your personal self with your public and professional image?
A: My personal, public, and professional image are all one and the same. Despite the fact that I don’t really have to put myself up front much, I only have one image. Anything else sounds exhausting!
Q: How the h*ck did you create this incredible company that I feel so much love for?
A: Slowly!
Q: What pieces do you wear every single day?
Q: How many piercings do you have?
A: A humble five! 2 on my right ear (Petite Angel Stud and Snow Queen Hoop), 3 on my left (Snow Queen Hoop, Baby Pearl Hoop, Snow Queen Stud).
Q: What advice do you have for someone wanting to quit their job and start their own business?
A: Do your homework before quitting, consider working part-time while you’re starting. I started when I had a rent-stabilized apartment, no debt, no kids - I didn’t have much to lose. But I still worked part time when I started. Prepare for lots of hours and no money.
Q: What would you tell 26 year old you at this point in your life?
A: Relax. Trust yourself more.
Q: How do I get a job as a jewelry maker?
A: The basic things we look for in a bench test is soldering skills, prong setting skills and following specs. We also require good communication and listening skills, ability to take feedback well and a good interview. A strong portfolio is helpful. Laser skills are great but most people don’t have those coming in. And of course, a lot depends on our current studio needs!
Q: What is your favorite book? Where do you get inspiration from?
A: I don’t have a favorite book but I did just re-read Olive Kitteridge which is sublime. So is The Shipping News. Also, Anne of Green Gables is way up there.
Inspiration is everywhere! People on the street, songs, overheard snippets, dreams, thunderstorms, everywhere.
Q: Do you use consignment or wholesale approach for the jewelry you carry from others?
A: When I started I did almost everything on consignment (even stationery!) but now we buy at wholesale and only do consignment in a few rare cases where it works for the designer as well.
Q: How did you find Leigh? And how did you know she was the right fit for Catbird’s vision?
A: I found her in my dreams! Kidding, but it almost feels that way. We met because I carried her beautiful stationery line in 2005. When I had my daughter, I needed people to work in the store and she was one of the people who answered my email. I wasn’t thinking much about the vision then - her role has evolved over 13 years as we’ve grown. I am so so SO happy that I get to work with her every day. This is a photo of us from when Dore came to visit our studio!
Q: How do you organize your jewelry collection?
A: Messily.
Thanks for reading! Want to learn more about our studio and brand? Follow this link!
In the Studio with Satomi Kawakita
Satomi Kawakita’s Tribeca atelier is a pretty perfect extension of her jewelry. Both her work and environment make use of warm colors blended with organic texture and geometric shapes. In a room supported by exposed brick walls and beams, under architectural lights, sits an oval shaped mid-century sofa and marble table. Every detail down to the leather serving coasters has a touch of Satomi’s hexagonal trademark. “I really like making and finding beautiful things; my heart beats for these things and those moments,” explains Satomi. “Even at home with friends, I like to cook for them and serve with the beautiful tableware that I have been collecting over time.”
Over the past 5 years, Satomi has filled Catbird with her stone and shape compositions, and adorned countless brides with their own Hexagon Ring, designed to stack in a manner of self expression. We chatted with Satomi on her beginnings, what she’s excited to be experimenting with, and of course our mutual favorite topic of conversation, food!You’ve been working and designing in New York since 2008. What led you to this point?I graduated from Art College in Kyoto, Japan with a major in living product design. I studied not only design itself, but also how to work with and embrace different materials. In that time, I worked with wood, metal, ceramic and textile. But after watching a program on TV one day, really fell in love with the art of glass blowing and decided I needed to explore it. I began to take classes at a local studio in Osaka while still in school. Doing glassblowing for five years made me realize that I was more comfortable working on a smaller scale, with more detailed pieces, at my own pace. I started making some accessories with glass beads and found I couldn't find clasps on the market that suited the design. I thought it would be nice if I could make it myself; that's how my interest in jewelry making started.What was the first piece you made that really took off?It would have to be my Hexagon Ring. The geometric shape is timeless and resonates with a lot of people, it's our signature. The turning point was definitely my exposure on the former blog Unruly Things, written by Alyson Brown. She introduced some of my rings on her blog at the end of August 2010 and changed my world. That, and the day Catbird started carrying my line. Both of those 2 moments happened in late 2010 and my life has never been the same since.
Describe your work in 3 words.Organic, delicate, simple.Are you experimenting with any new designs?I’ve been trying to make an Eternity Band with Pearls. I’ve been experimenting and trying this for years now, but haven't been entirely satisfied with the end result. I’m not sure if I can make this happen, but let’s see, I'm tenacious. My design approach has not changed for years and I don't think it will. My line has always been designs I, myself, would wear: organic, yet timeless. But I am always looking for new materials and something fun to work with like our One-of-a-Kind series.Who would you most like to see Satomi Kawakita on?My grandmother who passed away in 2013 at the age of 100. I always wanted to make a ring for her, as the Opal ring my grandpa gave her got too loose on her skinny finger. Unfortunately, though, it never happened.Browsing Satomi’s Instagram, you’re bound to be as mesmerized by the pastries as you are by the gems. We had to end our interview with Satomi’s Top 5 food picks in the city.Burrow, #1, of course. Ayako is an amazing artist and a great friend of mine. Not to mention the pastries are delicious.Kajitsu and Brushstroke for dinner. I go there when I need to treat myself well.The French Toast from Ladurée.I go to Hanamizuki, often, to get rice balls.
