Treasure

Kerstin Laibach

Luxury with a clear conscience is goldsmith Kerstin Laibach's founding principle as she seamlessly introduces a genuine ethos of sustainability into contemporary and classical jewellery design. Kerstin excels in entirely handmaking every detail of her pieces, including chains and intricate closing mechanisms, ensuring absolute integrity in both quality and uncompromised ethics. The result is a perfect blend of environmental harmony and personal expression ... true synchronicity for those who embrace the giving or receiving of cruelty-free, sustainable jewellery made to precise goldsmith standards.

Being environmentally aware not only means questioning the source of your jewellery, but also how it is made. Kerstin Laibach's holistic approach assures that every available measure is taken to create truly earth-kind jewellery through her unique ecological crafting principles. By realigning traditional goldsmith techniques, Laibach embraces kindness to all nature, without compromising on contemporary style or classical elegance.

With a small atelier situated in the birth town of Constanze Mozart in the heart of the southern Black Forest, Germany and a workbench in Dorset, England, Kerstin Laibach extends a warm welcome to all who embrace new ethical horizons.

Describe your jewellery design in three words.

Tranquil, Mad, Filmic.

Which other brands do you admire?

Margaux Lange: imaginative designs from bits of Barbie dolls ... These are collector items instead of landfill throwaways (the only jewellery artist who takes plastics out of the recycling chain and can get away with it). Samantha Braund. I met her at Desire, Winchester. She's found a niche with beautifully ethereal hand-wound designs without the typical bendy wire look.

Which of your designs are your favourites?

So far ... Swan's Lagoon. Just two currently in existence, one of which couldn't have gone to a nicer person. (Hugs for Hilary)

How long does each design take from inception to finished piece?

Anything from a day to a year.

Describe the space where you design.

In Germany: Full of birdsong and the sound the mountain river. (A bird table just outside the door.) In England: Full of birdsong and the unique light of the Dorset/Somerset sky (again with a bird table just outside the door).

Where does your inspiration come from?

Who can answer that without sounding pretentious? But here goes ... I sometimes transpose an image or a feeling that has nothing to do with jewellery ... into jewellery. Holistically, it's whatever instinctively feels right, based on natural forms and materials I use, and subsequently feels right for the client.

Who would be your dream person to design for?

Whoever the person is who is dreaming of their perfect jewellery piece and it happens to be one of mine. No .... really, it's that simple.

Favourite book?

Jennie by Paul Gallico

When did you design your first piece?

For my apprentice exams in 2002

How would you spend your perfect day off?

Although impossible without disapparating from one country to another in seconds ... breakfast and a couple of hours kayaking in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. A wander around The Lanes in Brighton. Coffee and cake in Gisiboden (Black Forest). Mid afternoon in the studio with my partner finally recording a flute piece. A late afternoon laze on a beach at Roseland, Cornwall... with a kite. An early evening spa at Bad Krozingen. Dinner at the Kastoori veggie restaurant in Tooting (not there anymore so I'd need a time machine as well) And after, going to see Jesca Hoop in concert.

What led you into jewellery design?

I love making intricate things ...Design automatically followed and simultaneously the desire to prove how it can all be done completely sustainably without any environmental impact, cruelty-free and never with new-mined materials.

How do you want the wearer to feel when wearing your jewellery?

Without a lie, a wearer from the UK sent a message literally minutes ago which read, "... such a beautiful ring. I like the way it feels and the warmth / coolness that it takes on as if it's at one with the wearer. So thank you once again for such beauty". In other words, each individual connects with a piece in a very personal and holistic way, which only they understand - They tell me what they feel - and that's a rewarding experience.

If you could own any piece of jewellery what would it be and by whom?

Anything Rene Lalique ... from the nouveau period.

Who is your typical customer?

Often intuitive and holistically aware. For restoration and classic design they are always very pleasant jewellery devotees looking for fine goldsmith work. With my Rise pieces it's artists and collectors with a keen eye. With wedding and engagement it's environmentally-tuned couples who genuinely understand what sustainable and ecological ethics really means.

Did you ever think when you started that you would be where you are now?

No, but my partner did ... and that's reassurance.

What are your most popular pieces in your collection?

FlowerPower, Rise, Angels and Wedding rings.

What do you consider to be the ongoing trend in jewellery design for 2012?

No idea.

If you've worked on previous high-profile projects, do you have any planned for 2012/13?

Cryptically ... Yes.

How do you promote your brand?

Being German I'm thinking of asking Top Gear if they could push a car into view when they are filming with a big Laibach logo on the doors.

What materials are you designing with?

Only recycled precious metals - nothing new-mined, surface gathered pebbles which I collect myself with no detriment to the environment ... and reclaimed antique diamonds. I don't cast so I hand forge each piece individually ... and nothing derived from animals.

Do you work closely with ethical jewellery organisations and projects?

No, just the environmental, wildlife and re-naturing projects to which I donate and participate with talks.

What is the biggest challenge facing ethical jewellery?

Not getting sucked into the greenwash and keeping it sustainable and recycled.

**You have £50 to spend on jewellery, what do you buy and from whom? **

Broken and discarded antique / scrap pieces from a boot sale.

You have £500 to spend on jewellery, what do you buy and from whom from?

Broken and discarded antique / scrap pieces from an antique market.

You have £5000 to spend on jewellery, what do you buy and from whom?

Broken and discard antique / scrap pieces from Tiffany.

If you weren't a jeweller what would you be?

Probably playing and teaching flute full time again while campaigning on environmental and animal welfare issues.

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