Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, the Jenner and Hadid sisters, Kaia Gerber, Irina Shayk, Karlie Kloss and more celebrities have flocked to Bagatiba, a collection of sustainable, timeless jewelry designed to spark nostalgia.
“Humans are naturally sentimental. A physical reminder versus a mental reminder of a feeling makes the memory more prominent,” designer Jessie Andrews tells Stylish exclusively while sharing details of Bagatiba’s latest drop, the Tab Collection.
“When you put on a necklace every morning that your grandmother gave to you, you have no choice but to remind yourself of her and why you are wearing it,” she continues.
Although Bagatiba’s necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings and body chains are edgier than what you might find in your relative’s jewelry box, they all feature a unique touch, giving the baubles the same special feeling that a family-heirloom does.
“We all love something that reminds us of our childhood. When I was in school, I would collect soda caps and wear them as a necklace,” she says, sharing the provenance of her new capsule.
“I created a collection earlier this year that was full of colorful beads, pearls, lucky symbols and an exact soda tab shape with diamonds on it. It was a huge hit, so I started sketching more of that shape. I came to this oddly molded, yet nostalgic shaped tab that was elevated and identifiable as something familiar.”
Andrews also employs previously-owned materials and recycled metals in her designs. As a result, in addition to bestowing each piece with her personal memories, she injects a vintage-y feel.
“We launched a program called the Triple R Project to give unwanted metal jewelry a new life. Our closed-loop initiative allows anyone in the world to send us their jewelry from any brand, in any condition, so we can upcycle it appropriately,” she explains.
And when you’re sporting an evocative, original piece, the designer believes a little goes a long way.
“Jewelry should complement your outfit rather than overpower it. For my personal style, I like to wear two or three pieces at a time unless I’m layering thin necklaces,” she notes.
If you’re doing some stacking yourself, she advises, “Don’t be afraid to add or subtract. I like to add layers of different lengths, but some people layer a few chains at the same length and it looks beautiful.”
