The Bombshell Diet: Fashion Fridays: Saskia Jewelry

Friday, May 18, 2012

Fashion Fridays: Saskia Jewelry

Lemon Quartz and Gold Earrings

There is nothing I love more than fun, fearless, female entrepreneurs. Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting jewelry designer Saskia of Saskia de Vries Designs while shopping on the Upper West Side, and I fell in love with a pair of earrings.

Her designs are beautiful and unique, so naturally, I wanted to know more! Check out the interview, and then, her online boutique.

How did you get started making jewelry?
I started making jewelry when I was 8 years old...They were very simple, colorful pieces made of small seed beads. In high school I used to make pieces with my friend Christi, which we actually tried selling without much success. Years later, just before my husband and I embarked on a year long trip around the world (13 countries in 11 months mostly in Asia), Christi insisted I bring a jewelry making kit with me for the journey and immediately took me to her local bead shop. It turned out to be the best decision we could have made: not only was it a wonderful thing to do on long bus rides through long dusty roads in China, but also a wonderful way to connect and communicate with people we met along the way.

What inspires you?

Our trip around the world is really what sparked my interest in finding unusual materials. Seeing such beautiful lands and people also inspired me to make pieces as unique as they were.

African Nile Necklace

What is your favorite piece from the current line?

My current favorite is the Nile series. It is a long strand of African White Heart beads that come from Ghana (the center is white which allows for the vibrant color of the glass) mixed with brass from Ghana and India. It can be worn as a long necklace, or worn double, or as a multi strand bracelet. The colors are bright and fun but it still has a very ethnic feeling to it.