" In my studio by the Atlantic Ocean, I research, I braid, I glue, I resin, I dye, I assemble, I cut, I shape [...]. I also have a zero-waste approach; I encase the plastic waste I collect on the beaches or workshop scraps in resin to make beads. "
HELEN.
SAILOR & IRMA
JEWELRY ARTIST AND DESIGNER, Les Sables-d'Olonne (85)
Hélène tells us how her fascination with her mother’s jewelry box led her to create Sailor & Irma.
Tell us your story, how did you find your calling?
From my mother's jewelry box, a colorful treasure where all styles and eras were represented, from precious family heirlooms to costume jewelry. This undoubtedly educated me in some way about the different styles through fashions and periods, and gave me an open mind regarding costume jewelry, which my mother wore just as much as the others. To me, they held the same value, as it was often sentimental. I was fascinated by this treasure chest, and since I was quite handy, my mother often asked me to repair broken jewelry or create new pieces from parts of others. Much later, I wanted to create lovely things to make life more beautiful, and one day I had a huge crush on a stand selling scoubidou cords made in France: their colors were vibrant under the sun! I looked for ways I could use them and invented my own techniques. It all started like that.
How would you describe your style and your artistic approach in a few words?
My style is a blend of color and poetry; I seek to create original jewelry that is like no other, which is not easy given the vast selection... I hope to succeed.
I love creating jewelry that is truly striking, that enhances a woman and brightens her day. My work focuses on an exploration of organic and geometric shapes, and on the contrast between natural materials and artificial ones, such as plastic.
What themes or subjects inspire you most in your work?
Art, nature, and architecture. The sea is an inspiration very dear to me: its colors, the shapes of seashells, its radiance.
How do you work?
In my studio by the Atlantic Ocean, I research, I weave, I glue, I resin, I dye, I assemble, I cut, I shape... It all depends on the project. I also have a zero-waste approach; I embed plastic waste that I collect on the beaches or workshop scraps in resin to make beads.
Do you have a particular technique or specific expertise? Without revealing all your secrets, have you developed your own methods and techniques?
Yes, for example, I have looked into ways to use gimp thread and dye it, or I am looking for ways to imitate the shine of water in my resin beads.
I have also found a technical method so that the seashells I collect can be gilded with fine gold by my gilder; the gold-plated parts are therefore designed by me beforehand, which results in interesting patterns that highlight the polished shapes of the shells and give a truly unique character to each piece of jewelry.
Tell us about your daily life, your constraints, your joys, your successes…
The best part is when a client tries on a piece of jewelry and it truly comes to life in all its beauty, and she leaves happy. My greatest satisfaction: when my clients come back to see me wearing their earrings from the latest collection.