In Conversation with Jennifer Sarkilahti of Odette NY
New York jewelry label Odette is coming up on its 10 year anniversary. The line is now ubiquitous and heavily influential over the current trends - and rightly so. There is something primitive about this Brooklyn-based jewelers creations, yet altogether elegant. Described at once as timeless, organic, and textural the pieces are highly representative of designer Jennifer Sarkilahti's background in fine-arts. [caption id="attachment_5141" align="aligncenter" width="1244"]
Jennifer Sarkilahti of Odette. Photo by Re Jin Lee.[/caption] We're such fans of her work and of the woman herself that we took a rare step and commissioned a collaborative piece: wear it on a chain, wear it as a broach, or wear it as a boot clip - this versatile piece was inspired by Odette's Split Ridge Cuff. Now available exclusively at Coclico. [caption id="attachment_5126" align="alignnone" width="1200"]
The WHIT bootie and Odette boot clip. In the studio.[/caption] [read_more] [caption id="attachment_5142" align="aligncenter" width="604"]
The Odette for Coclico clip, shown on a silver chain.[/caption] We recently took a chance of a catch up with Jennifer to speak with her about nearly a decade of craftsmanship in Brooklyn. on MILESTONES Odette turns 10 next year which feels like a huge milestone for us. Growing the business in a slow, organic way was a necessity in the beginning but it has also allowed us to be very resourceful. Many of the highlights have just been achieving small personal goals, each having helped contribute to building our brand. on the FW15 COLLECTION I was inspired to design a collection based on the shape of the body but with an organic textured surface. My personal favorites are the Lobe studs and the statement Lunate Cuff. [caption id="attachment_5130" align="aligncenter" width="444"]
Odette Lunate Cuff[/caption] on BETTER FEWER THINGS My favorite things are both beautiful and utilitarian. I love ceramics for example but I don’t want to put them high up on a shelf just to look at, I want to use them everyday. I drink my morning coffee out of my treasured hand-thrown Object & Totem and BDB mugs. I approach my closet in a similar way, I try to buy quality pieces that I will get a lot of use out of. [caption id="attachment_5134" align="aligncenter" width="599"]
Via @objandtotem: Object and Totem mugs[/caption] on the PERFECT WEEKEND My ideal winter weekend is staying cozy at home with my husband and 2 year old son, cooking a meal together and watching the snow falling outside. on WINTER DRESSING We have brutal winters, so style-wise, there is a lot of layering. [caption id="attachment_5123" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Layered up. Our custom piece worn as a brooch.[/caption] I’m a fan of the chunky platform on the classic Tecla clog. For FW15, I am loving the angled ankle detail of the Whit Bootie and the navy leather feels like a fresh take on a classic ankle bootie. on SHARED SPACE For the past four years, we have shared a studio space in Greenpoint with a small perfume line MCMC Fragrances, run by two sisters Anne Serrano McClain and Katie McClain. They develop the scents and bottle everything onsite. One thing I love about working in our co-space is bouncing ideas off of each other. It’s nice to have a built-in sounding board and constant dialog with a team that is going through similar experiences. [caption id="attachment_5125" align="alignnone" width="800"]
In the Studio: The Odette x Coclico Boot Clip on the WHIT bootie.[/caption] on FINDING INSPIRATION I love visiting museums, traveling, reading books. Earlier this year I traveled to Portugal and found a lot of unexpected inspiration there. [caption id="attachment_5145" align="aligncenter" width="598"]
Lisbon inspiration. Follow Jennifer on Instagram @odetteny[/caption] on WHATS NEW I am really excited about our new Holiday/Resort collection that features our signature hand-carved surfaces but with the addition of Moonstones, Hematite, Turquoise, Malachite and Lapis. It’s been fun to add color to the collection in unexpected ways. [caption id="attachment_5146" align="aligncenter" width="478"]
Pieces from the Odette resort collection.[/caption] A heartfelt thanks to Jennifer for taking the time to speak with us, and of course, for creating our exclusive Holiday clip.
