Treasure Designer of the Year Award

Last Friday FashionUnited had the opportunity to meet with creative masterminds Claire Gaudion and Kelly Bowerbank of Gaudion Bowerbank, who have just won the 2010 Treasure Designer of the Year Award at the award winning London

 Jewellery Week.

The Treasure Designer of the Year Award recognises designers for excellence in visionary design and the use of the latest technology in creating their pieces.

Gaudion Bowerbank, an e-store that combines the concepts of a shop, gallery and studio as well as showcases emerging jewellery design talent, won the award for its unique design perspectives.

Kelly Bowerbank, co-founder of Gaudion Bowerbank, confesses to FashionUnited that she was genuinely surprised to win but remains tight-lipped on the brand’s obvious bright future.

Read the full interview below.

FashionUnited: Congratulations on your award. How does it feel to know that Gaudion Bowerbank has been judged by industry experts and has won the award?
Gaudion Bowerbank: It was a truly wonderful surprise, especially given that it was awarded by industry experts. Being a young brand, it never occurred to us that Gaudion Bowerbank would win, but it is great feeling knowing that other people really get what we are trying to achieve.

FU: Why do you think your brand stood out from other entries to scoop the award?
GB: There were some great stands and very talented designers at Treasure this year, but in my opinion Gaudion Bowerbank stood out because we offered a slightly different design perspective from the other exhibiters. We showcase sculptural, hand-crafted pieces, many of which are constructed from materials that one doesn't automatically associate with jewellery, such as wood, perspex and leather. I think we prove that contemporary jewellery doesn't have to be ‘dainty’; it can be bold and edgy and still manage to look elegant too.

FU: We took the opportunity to read about the origins of Gaudion Bowerbank on your website but can you please tell our readers about the e-store in your own words?
GB: If you want a simple description, then Gaudion Bowerbank is a shop. But, we pride ourselves on being much more than that. We are a platform for emerging design talent and a window into the creative process. For each designer that we showcase on the website, we provide a little background information about their inspirations, designs and production methods. It's like a narrative accompanying the collections, helping you appreciate the real value of the jewellery on offer which, being hand-crafted and finished, is inherently exclusive.

FU: Please tell us about some of your designers and what it takes to qualify for a place in your e-store? Are designers required to be at a certain level of business maturity?
GB: Our designers are all at very different places in their lives. Some work full-time creating their jewellery, others are studying and one or two work part-time too. We don't require them to be at a set level of business maturity. What we look for is talent and a creative vision that compliments ours. Reliability is also very important. We may find the most amazing jewellery designer or maker in the world, but if he or she is ‘flakey’, and we suspect they may let down customers by not delivering on time, then we can't take them on board.

FU: Do you have any tips for others attempting to start a career in fashion jewellery?
GB: Know what you like - if you like it, then it stands to reason that others will too. But don't confuse what you would wear personally with what you like. Work out how much time you think something will take, then times it by four for a more accurate figure. And this might be an obvious one, but wear the jewellery you plan to sell. Is it comfortable? Does it stay fastened? Does it still look great after repeated wears? You need to know the answers to these questions (and many more!).

FU: Plans for the brand's future?
GB: Oh, we have lots of plans for the future, many of which I best keep under my hat. But I can tell you that we are revamping the website and we will be adding our own ranges to our offer soon. So watch this space!