Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Age: 32 (Malu). 40 (Rick).
Occupation: Jewelers.
Instagram: @en_studio_nyc
Hometown: New York (Malu). Kalamazoo, Mi (Rick).
Studio location: Catskill, NY.
Describe what you make: Our collection of fine jewelry is called EN Studio, which is centered around minimalist statements—a reinterpretation of classic sculptural forms. We aim to create elevated staples for everyday and special occasions alike. The jewelry is formed with unexpected hand-carved semi-precious stone selections that are paired with poetic/pastel hues of recycled gold. Many of the pieces feature hidden stone settings or a sprinkle of diamonds. All are designed in our studio in Upstate New York, where each piece is thoughtfully and meticulously hand made from start to finish.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: I suppose our Arch Earring. It’s a piece that went through many iterations and rolled over and over in our minds in a thousand different ways before we got it just right. It taught us not to force anything, that it’s okay to let things sit and give them breathing room to become realized in their own time.
Describe the problem your work solves: We saw a bridge that was missing between traditionally masculine and feminine jewelry that we didn’t entirely resonate with. In creating these pieces together, originally meant for each other to fill that void and bring each other joy, we discovered that there was a larger audience craving the work we were making as well. We’ve found that the nature of being a duo can create a strong balance and a form of inclusivity.
Describe the project you are working on now: We’re really excited about a furniture collaboration that we have started with an incredible furniture duo here upstate. We don’t want to say too much just yet, but it will certainly have some of our signature carved elements.
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: We created a special bracelet for the American Utopia Broadway show, which will be having it’s re-debut this September. That was a fun project. And then we’re creating a suite of sculptural Lapis and 22k pieces for holiday 2021, taking some of our classic forms to the next level.
What you absolutely must have in your studio: Plants, music, salty and sweet snacks (preferably some garam masala honey popcorn and fresh local peaches), coffee… wine. Laughter.
What you do when you’re not working: Lots and lots of swimming.
Sources of creative envy: There are certainly many people we greatly admire—some for the work they’ve created and some for the practice and lives they’ve built. Envy might not be the right word, but certainly guidance and inspiration. Vonnegut/Kraft; Michael Daube, Citta; Jo Harvey and Terry Allen; Gabriella Kiss.
The distraction you want to eliminate: Cellphones. Endless doom scrolling. “Revenge bedtime procrastination” that one of us is very prone to doing…
Concrete or marble? Marble.
High-rise or townhouse? Portuguese farmhouse.
Remember or forget? It’s already forgotten.
Aliens or ghosts? Aliens.
Dark or light? Light.
