Jewelry Love: Empire State Finery
I am really looking forward to a crazy busy and fun week ahead. The Pop-Up Shop at The English Room with The SoGood is not to be missed. Please stop by and bring your gal pals.
One of the many brands I am excited to share is a favorite new Jewelry brand from Hotlanta. Enjoy getting to know the lovely ladies behind Empire State Finery, Alice and Paige and what inspires their creative pursuits.
What is your training?
We both run on finding new and different ways to use materials. We are completely self-trained and self-taught. Our work is really dictated by the materials that we find and are given. We’ll fall in love with a random pattern mix of beading, the glimmer of a stone, or find a really cool old skeleton key that we feel needs to be showcased, and then we figure out a way to use it and highlight the beauty in the piece. Whether one of us starts the piece and the other finishes it or we both design the piece together, there is truly a little bit of each of us in every piece. How we get to the end result and get from initial idea to reality is a lot of trial and error!
What inspires you and your designs?
Past, present and future! Music, artwork, creative icons, family, nature. There’s so much beauty and inspiration in our day to day lives, it’s just a matter of stopping to take a look around and appreciating what surrounds us!
What is your favorite piece?
Our favorite piece…tough call. We constantly make pieces and become slightly obsessed with them. Currently, we are loving our boars tusk necklaces. We wear them with everything and layer them with other pieces.
How has your area influenced your work?
Atlanta has so many wonderful neighborhoods, and they all have their own great personality and vibe. I think that translates into our pieces. We like to think that we have something for everyone represented in all five of our jewelry lines.
What is your favorite restaurant in (your city)?
For a fun night out, we love The Optimist,
or for brunch or patio seating on a great weather day, Ladybird is fantastic!
What is your favorite cocktail?
Vodka, soda, hint of grapefruit, tons of lime! Does the trick every time!
How do you balance personal life and work?
Good question! This is something that is still a work in progress. We both have full-time day jobs in addition to Empire State Finery. We have dedicated nights and weekends that we fully devote to the business, but it is definitely a balance!
Dream trip?
Alice – Maldives. A hut with a glass bottom floor, fresh seafood, lots of swimming and sun every day, sign me up!
Paige- Bora Bora. Would be perfectly content on the porch of a secluded bungalow with a good view, a good book, good food and a cocktail.
Dream commission?
We’d love to do a collaboration with J Crew. It’s a great retailer that we both grew up on, and it only continues to evolve.
Your favorite host / hostess gift to give?
Wine! You can never go wrong and it always is put to good use.
Who is your style icon?
Giovanna Battaglia
and Kate Moss
Your favorite up and coming artist / jewelry designer / any creative?
Jewelry-
Nak Armstrong make the most beautiful, simple pieces.
Creative-
Kelly Wearstler and Ascot+Hart have a great edge and style to all that they do.
What is your most treasured possession?
Alice – I just had a portrait of my mom commissioned by Atlanta artist Mark Boomershine. (Whom I featured exactly a year ago today – HERE) It’s based off of a great snapshot of her at the Parthenon in the mid-seventies that I’ve loved since I was young. My mother is a huge source of strength in my life, and Mark did an absolutely amazing job. He rocked it! I’m obsessed.
Paige- I have a ring that was given to me by my Mom. It is very sentimental to me. Her parents gave it to her for her 16th birthday and she in turn gave it to me for my 30th birthday. All three of them have had such an impact in all aspects of my life. My grandfather has passed away, but he still holds a huge presence in my every day life. To me, that ring is a constant memory of not only my grandparents and my mom, but my whole family and all the memories we have shared and continue to make.
What are you reading?
Alice – Just finishing up The Girl on The Train. Have not put it down since I started! I love mysteries.
Paige- No books for me at the moment. I read articles daily through one of my favorite apps, Zite. It is one of my favorite things to do before bed. I’ve also been on a Podcast kick lately and just finished ‘Serial‘. Great series!
What are you listening to?
There is always something playing in the background while we work. We both love music. We listen to bit of everything…Rock, Jazz, Blues, Country, Rap…
What are your favorite blogs / publications?
and The Jealous Curator are all great blogs.
Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and Porter for magazines!
Here are just a few of my many Empire State Finery favorites.
Pop by to pick out a bauble for you or your babe!
See you tomorrow…
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