A personal matter

The dynamism that Katerina Vassou’s jewelry radiate, filtered, though, through a kind elegance that renders them with a different kind of grace, is hard for someone to ignore. This Greek, extroverted brand’s handmade designs evince a creative hand that seems to get the concept of jewelry in a different way.

“When I find a material that draws my interest, I start working on it; the material is what will guide me”, Katerina explains, describing her creative procedure. “This is why each piece of jewelry is unique, when built around a specific stone, for example, that has its distinctive shape”. This way, every new design has already its own identity. Besides, this is how Katerina has created her first jewelry: by taking the metal into her hands and working it around, breathing her personal love about jewelry into it.

I like it when people instantly recognize a Katerina Vassou piece, when they recognize that it has a certain identity

Apart from the material, the inspiration at a given moment plays a crucial role. “The natural materials inspire me a lot, as can a woman with cool style give me an idea about a design – and of course, instinctively, without me doing it on purpose, a certain mood, a feeling flows into every piece of jewelry”. That is how the personality the jewelry appears to have can be explained. Geometrical lines, original combinations and bold volumes are the foundation for pieces with an identity, already recognized by the public. This is also Katerina’s ambition: “I like it when people instantly recognize a Katerina Vassou piece, when they recognize that it has a certain identity”. Her collections’ success abroad, where she envisions establishing a stronger presence in the immediate future, proves that she achieves it. “The interesting thing about abroad is that they really love bold designs there, the same ones that I also love, they are not afraid to try anything, they have imagination; while in Greece, even though both artisans and designers are extraordinary, better than abroad, the audience is too hesitant, very self-conscious, and the designs are more on the safe side”.

When it comes to her new collection, she describes how, naturally, she was influenced by the last two years’ circumstances. “There wasn’t much mood and imagination; the designs came out to be more simple and dark, rather than my usual style. But I also wanted to make it more affordable, because a lot of people go through a difficult time with everything that goes on”.

The future, however, she claims that comes with a mood for new experimentations with techniques, materials, combinations and shapes. And she promises an exciting next collection.

Photography: Haralampos Giannakopoulos