Zelda Passini is as enticing and magnetic as the jewellery she makes. Upon graduating from Central Saint Martins where she studied a BA in Jewellery Design three years ago, Zelda moved from London to Paris where she first decided to start her own brand, with the city only encouraging her passion more and more everyday. Each of her collections act as a visual translation of the jewellery designers concept of femininity and beauty; the tough suffused with a natural elegance that result in minimalistic pieces that stand more than the test of time.
We met with her to talk about sensuality, Renaissance and the power of nature.
Mundane gestures have a great influence over me creatively.
I always pay attention to the small details, the things that people usually overlook. This is something I got from my grand-father who was a wonderful jeweller and in turn, extremely meticulous.
I have always been inspired by the beauty of nature.
I like working with raw materials such as brass and pale gold which I think are more discrete and humble than bright gold.
In their films, film directors Brisseau, Lynch, Verhoeven and Argento all created powerful female characters.
The femininity each of them embody is something that has influenced the way I shape my collection enormously. Their depictions of female are always complimentary - both fearless and graceful in their own unique way.
Renaissance paintings captivate me every single time.
I love the way models were posing at the time and their timeless attitude that translates through the paintings - lascivious and erotic. These are qualities I try to infuse my work with.
I love watching other women making and doing things.
Whether they're sewing clothes, smoking or doing their hair, each action is a reminder of how subjective femininity is. We each have our own way in which we move, walk, talk, think so how could there ever be one description?