DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT
ANITA KO A conversation with designer
How did you first discover your passion for jewelry design, and what led you to pursue it as a career? I discovered my passion for jewelry at a young age, around seven or eight. I would beg my parents to take me to the jewelry center so I could make my own gem stone pieces in blue topaz and amethyst. I would always play dress up in my mother’s and grandmother’s jewelry.
What sources of inspiration do you draw upon when conceptualizing a new jewelry collection or piece?
When I conceptualize a new collection it’s very important that it represents Los Angeles — the energy, the glamour, the cool factor — so I feel very connected to my environment. My lifestyle of being raised in Los Angeles is where I draw my inspiration —the sun, the beach, the
Bel Air grandmothers, the rockers on Sunset, the surfers, the movie stars, the cool girls, the palm trees, and everything in between.
What challenges have you faced in your career as a jewelry designer, and how did you overcome them? When I started in the business
I was a young woman in my early twenties in a male dominated world. That in itself is challenging, but I worked hard, paid my bills, and was eager to learn.
I earned respect, and I learned very early on that your character and being a trustworthy person are everything in our business.
What advice would you offer to emerging jewelry designers looking to establish themselves in the industry? I would say don’t give up if you truly love designing. Keep pushing and believe in yourself. Build a community of other designers to motivate and support you. Work really hard and be organized, precise, and diligent. Maintain a sense of humor and make and maintain relationships —they go a long way. Finally, what do you hope people experience or feel when they wear your jewelry, and what satisfaction do you derive from your work as a jewelry designer? I hope people feel positive energy. I want them to feel beautiful, cool, sexy, and strong. I want it to enhance a person’s life and hope they create lifetime memories that bring a smile. Everything I do is dedicated to this purpose of bringing happiness, strength, and love to someone’s life.
50 ORR’S JEWELERS MAGAZINE
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