So if you’re feeling inspired and planning to conquer table mountain, or just lounge by the Silo Hotel’s very own rooftop pool; then your outfits should definitely match the occasion. Our suggestion? Embrace classic khakis and contemporary earth tones – for a safari look that is as fierce as the wildlife.
Khaki Gabriela Hat by Misaharada available at www.misaharada.com
Leopard print bodysuit by Longchamp available at longchamp.com
“Having established itself over the world as the leading Spanish urban chain, Room Mate Group is continuing to innovate and has created a new business line, as it aims to rediscover the experience and concept of the beachfront hotel.”
As the January blues creep up and the hunger for some foreign sunshine settles in, there’s no better time to start thinking about your 2020 summer getaway. But, instead of clocking up your air mileage chasing the warm temperatures and Insta-worthy landscapes, Room Mate’s most-recent boutique hotel to hit the map means you no longer have to fly long-haul to experience some oceanside luxury.
And to celebrate the opening of their most recent venture, Room Mate Beach Hotel are gifting their customers with 40% off bookings throughout January. Despite the brand having established itself worldwide since 2005, the hotel will be the first of its kind for Kike Sarasola, who’s vision to expand into beachside resorts is looking to be a successful move for the company.
Alongside the carefully crafted selection of culinary delights on offer, visitors can expect to be greeted with an interior fashioned by internationally-renowned landscape designer, Jaime Beriestain.
“I have focused on the Mediterranean, its beaches, its culture, and its traditions and also taken inspiration from the vital role that craftsmanship plays in many of the island’s towns. I have closely studied materials used by local craftspeople on the island, such as leather, clay, ceramics and vegetable fibers, in order to creatively incorporate them into the hotel’s decor”
Tapping into this season’s most coveted trends of wellness and personal health, the hotel doesn’t fall short of its own wellbeing amenities – boasting an impressive four open-air swimming pools and Balinese-inspired sun deck area, Room Mate is the perfect excuse to take a break from your everyday routine and unwind on the coast of one of Spain’s most atmospheric landscapes. Located just off the island’s prominent Calviá Beach, Room Mate Olivia grants its guests with their own little slice of beachside tranquillity; but should you find yourself craving the urban-city lifestyle energy, the islands capital city of Palma can be accessed via a short drive from the hotel.
So, as to be expected, House of Coco couldn’t miss an opportunity to visit this exciting new addition to the Balearic’s shoreline. In the run-up to the hotel’s grand opening, don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled on our socials later this year and join us on our trip to oceanside heaven.
For more information, visit Room Mate Hotels at www.room-matehotels.com
It’s no secret #TeamCoco has an ongoing love affair with the beautiful state of California, USA and below is our pick of its most beautiful hotels to help inspire wanderlust ahead of the new year.
Big Sur: Treebones Resort
The ultimate glamping experience, Treebones Resort caters for both the coastal dwellers and those who love the outdoors. Ranging from Yurts to Twig Huts, Treebones creates a magical experience, combining luxury camping amenities with spectacular views of the ocean. The exclusive Twig Hut (pictured) features a private deck where visitors can experience some of the greatest sunsets in California.
SLO CAL: Madonna Inn
Welcoming guests since 1958, the Madonna Inn is one of the most memorable properties in SLO CAL (San Luis Obispo County), recognised for its whimsical décor and hospitable charm. Each of the 110 rooms is individually styled, such as the Pony Room – which features a pint-sized carousel steed – and the Caveman Room – home to waterfalls and rock walls. The hotel’s restaurant, Gold Rush Steakhouse (pictured), is a pink paradise serving delicious steaks and outside, guests can relax in the hilltop pool with a 45-foot waterfall that plunges into a lagoon.
Greater Palm Springs: Sands Hotel and Spa
The Sands Hotel and Spa is an exclusive hotel located in Indian Wells, Greater Palm Springs. Designed in collaboration with renowned designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard – who has styled homes for celebrity royalty, including Sir Elton John and Cher – the property is the first designer boutique hotel in Indian Wells, with 46 individually-styled rooms, as well as a Moroccan spa and outdoor pool. The Pink Cabana restaurant (pictured) took design inspiration from the Palm Springs tennis and racquet clubs of the 1950s and 60s.
Mendocino: Mendocino Grove
Located minutes from the idyllic coastal town of Mendocino, Mendocino Grove is set within 37 acres of beautiful woodland, home to ready-made safari-style accommodation. Camping is made comfy in each of the fully-outfitted tents, which include heated beds, cotton bed sheets and seating, all grouped into six ‘neighbourhoods’. Guests are provided with cooking equipment for intimate evenings around the fire, a bath house with indoor and outdoor showers, in addition to tea and coffee at the Meadow Commons.
Santa Cruz: Hotel Paradox
Home to rugged mountains, majestic redwoods and vibrant communities, Santa Cruz is a destination not to be missed on California’s Central Coast. Located just one mile from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Hotel Paradox welcomes guests through its striking entrance to experience the perfect balance between nature and urban design, intertwined through every aspect of the interiors.
Santa Barbara: Hotel Californian
Santa Barbara’s Hotel Californian features Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and a modern Moorish vibe, creating a design infusion which just begs to be photographed. The 121-room urban seaside property offers a luxurious Turkish-inspired spa, manicured gardens, distinctive dining options and a rooftop deck with a swimming pool and 360-degree views. Hotel Californian is just one of the many reasons why Santa Barbara is a hit with the Instagram elite.
Our top picks for breathtaking views:
San Francisco: Cavallo Point Lodge
Situated at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, Cavallo Point Lodge offers one of the most scenic vantage points of the iconic bridge and the San Francisco Bay. Whether staying in its Historic lodging in the former US Army post, Fort Baker, or the eco-friendly Contemporary lodging, with floor-to-ceiling windows for the ultimate view, guests are welcomed to enjoy a peaceful escape, all whilst being a short distance from the city. www.visitcalifornia.co.uk
Sacramento: The Citizen Hotel
Overlooking the iconic California State Capitol and the downtown Sacramento skyline, the Citizen Hotel provides its guests with luxurious suites, each with classic styling and striking décor. The suites feature pin-stripe walls and plush furniture, with a different experience provided in every room. The hotel’s restaurant, Grange, has become the staple for farm-to-fork dining in the city, showcasing the seasonal produce of the region.
Dana Point: Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa
Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa in Dana Point, Orange County, has a five-star feel without the price tag. The OverVue Lounge and Deck, is the idea place to sit back, relax and watch the sun rise or set. A menu of delicious tapas and handcrafted cocktails is accompanied with beautiful Pacific Ocean views, and there’s also live music every Friday and Saturday night.
Yosemite Mariposa County: The Ahwahnee
Designated a National Historic Landmark, this 1920s hotel is an architectural masterpiece, providing spectacular views of Yosemite Valley – home to many famous cliffs, waterfalls and the iconic Half Dome. The Ahwahnee – one of the only hotels located in the Valley – is the most elegant lodging in the park and has plenty of creature comforts on offer for an upscale outdoor escape.
Tri-Valley: The Purple Orchid
The Purple Orchid is nestled in the heart of Livermore Valley, one of California’s undiscovered viticultural gems. With sweeping valley views of lush vineyards, the hotel is the perfect place to capture laid-back California on camera. Enjoy private fireplaces, delicious breakfast and one of the many revitalising treatments from its renowned spa.
And for incredible pools, look no further than these beauties:
Newport Beach: Resort at Pelican Hill
The Newport coast is renowned for its natural beauty and contemporary architecture. At the southernmost tip of Newport Beach, visitors will find the luxurious The Resort at Pelican Hilll, a five-star property sure to make any visit to the area a memorable one. The Coliseum Pool – one of the world’s largest circular pools and the beating heart of the hotel – makes for the perfect holiday snap with panoramic views over the Pacific Ocean.
Huntington Beach: Paséa Hotel & Spa
Located just steps from the Huntington Beach Pier, Paséa Hotel & Spa is a modern oasis with an unrivalled sense of clean, coastal style and comfort. Offering laid-back luxury with a deep connection to the Huntington Beach surf culture, Paséa Hotel & Spa comprises 250 spacious guestrooms, rooftop bar and spa. The aqua blue pool is a highlight of the hotel, boasting unparalleled views of the ocean.
West Hollywood: Mondrian Los Angeles
The Mondrian in West Hollywood encapsulates everything the legendary Sunset Strip stands for – excitement, invincibility and glamour. Located on its rooftop, Skybar is an open-air, ivy-covered pavilion surrounding the rooftop pool, with wide open windows offering incredible views of downtown LA. A high-energy poolside lounge by day, the Skybar provides chilled drinks and cool waters for its guests, and when the sun sets, Skybar becomes one of West Hollywood’s hottest nightlife spots.
This season, visitors to London Stansted Airport are invited to experience the festive allure of CHANEL through an immersive shopping experience inside the CHANEL SNOWGLOBE, and #TeamCoco are super excited about this launch.
Launching in partnership with London Stansted Airport and World Free Duty, guests are welcome to step inside the life size CHANEL SNOWGLOBE where there is much to do and guests will be able to personalise gifts and cards with a complimentary, hand-written message by an expert calligrapher.
Also within the CHANEL SNOWGLOBE guests can indulge in mini makeovers with the CHANEL Holiday collection from a CHANEL makeup artist and have a complimentary hand and arm massage – which is perfectly timed before anyone boards an onward airplane.
‘We are thrilled to launch the CHANEL SNOWGLOBE, the first of its kind to open in an airport and a wonderful moment for visitors to begin the festive season. London Stansted Airport has evolved dramatically in recent years and is now a great destination for this immersive shopping experience.’ Olivier Nicolay, Managing Director CHANEL
‘The pop-up is arriving just in time for the excitement of the festive travel season and we’re delighted that our travellers will get a first glimpse of the designer Christmas range and limited-edition pieces while planning their festive shopping.’ Aboudy Nasser, Commercial Director London Stansted Airport
‘We’re delighted to be part of this exciting trinity project with CHANEL and London Stansted airport. Customers will definitely enjoy discovering the CHANEL Christmas gift lines and will appreciate the opportunity to personalise their gifts and purchases to make them even more special.’ Delphine Poultney, Head of Beauty in the UK for World Duty Free
New York City is the home and design haven for Noor Shamma and her namesake jewellery brand Noor Shamma.
Noor’s designs are beautifully elegant, tastefully designed, and follow an ethical before they reach the customer. The Noor Shamma collections are sustainably sourced by using recycled and conflict free 18-karat gold, her team follow the sustainable practice through conserving natural resources, reducing energy usage, reducing carbon emissions and by reducing their carbon footprint.
We ask Noor about her background in jewellery, her love of elegant design, and we want to know more about her own personal favourite designs and styles. She is our latest #BossBabe superstar and she features in this, our #WomenWorldwide series.
Q. Does your working career stem from within the jewellery industry, or did you come from a different business sector?
A. I’ve always been into art and design (since childhood) but my career has primarily been in corporate communications, marketing and branding for the past 14 years or so. I randomly yet naturally transitioned into jewellery design and gradually developed my skill-set, while keeping my full-time corporate job!
Q. You tend to work with 18-karat gold, diamonds and pearls, are these your favourite metals and stones to design jewellery from?
A. I love designing timeless jewellery and that naturally impacts my metal and stone choices.
Q. You currently have three collections available from Noor Shamma, they include the Repertoire, Troika, and Luz; can you tell us a little more about these collections?
A. My collections introduce architectural elements and distinctive geometric patterns where each of the pieces are expertly engineered in a way that allows unique multi-functionality through different adaptations, making them perfect day-to-night – they’re so versatile, elegant and fun.
Q. You design necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings in your collections; do you have a piece that is your favourite ‘go to’ for every occasion?
A. That’s a tough question. There are many pieces that I love, but if I had to pick it would be the OG Repertoire U-hoops, and the Luz Diamond U-Huggies which I almost never take off lately. Plus the Luz signet ring is quite special!
Q. Do you wear your own Noor Shamma designs along with any other designer jewellery brands, or do you only wear Noor Shamma?
A. I wear my own designs along with other jewellery designers’ brands.
Q. You are very eco-friendly and run a sustainable business at Noor Shamma, can you tell us why you have taken this route and not the traditional route?
A. We live at a time where there is so much more awareness on global issues and a better understanding of the importance of sustainability. I simply feel that we can each contribute to the world in our ways since every little thing would make a difference.
Q. Your Instagram @noorshamma showcases some of your designs beautifully; do you find social media helps to promote your brand?
A. Most certainly, as it exposes the brand to a larger audience around the world.
Q. We hear that you are planning on attending fashion week in different cities across the world, have you shown at New York Fashion Week or any other fashion week previously?
A. I’ve already presented in Milan Design Week (April 2019) and London Fashion Week (September 2019) and I most definitely hope to attend more of these shows. I’ve also presented at a couple of prominent jewellery trade shows in NYC such as Metal & Smith and JA NY, and there’s more to come.
Q. Did you have to take any specialist courses in fine jewellery or art design before you launched your business in New York?
A. Over two years ago, after I realised my passion and talent in jewellery design and when I finally decided to launch my very own brand, I took an intensive course and received my GIA accreditation in Applied Jewellery Professional.
Q. Did anyone offer you any useful business advice before you launched your company that you still use to this day?
A. Trust your gut, you know best.
Q. Did anyone offer you any bad advice that you followed, and later wished you hadn’t?
A. To be honest, any bad decisions I made were my call.
Q. If you were to offer one piece of advice to someone thinking of getting into the fine jewellery sector, what would it be?
A. Do your homework.
Thank you for taking the time to answer all our #BossBabe questions for House of Coco Magazine. Visit the website www.noorshamma.com to find out more, and Instagram @noorshamma to see Noor’s latest designs.
Pavlina Jauss is a German luxury fashion designer that specialises in the field of luxury avant-garde fashion, with a nod towards fair trade and sustainability. Pavlina prides herself in working with some of the best European suppliers around and produces 99% of her designs in Hamburg, Germany, with only her knitwear being produced in Bulgaria by a traditional knitting company.
Pavlina’s latest designs are ethereal, flowing, and contemporary, all are exquisitely crafted with intricate finishing touches that produce head-turning quality clothing.
We wanted to know more about Pavlina, her designs, and why her catwalks are the talk of fashion week.
Q. At what point did you realise that you were destined to be a fashion designer?
A. I can not say exactly. To me it felt like a mix of chances and changes in my life. It was a rather slow process.
Q. Is your background in the fashion industry and clothing design, or did you come across from a different business sector?
A. I came from an economic background. I admired the work of several designers, but discovered my abilities in this area afterwards. At this point I took action and began my second education as a fashion designer.
Q. All the Pavlina Jauss designs are eponymous with ethereal free flowing materials, can you tell us what materials you have used for your Autumn/Winter 2020 collection?
A. I attach great importance to the sustainability, quality and origin of the fabrics I use. The actual selection is only from european suppliers. Alpaca, cashmere, cotton, virgin wool and viscose/cotton mixes are important ingredients for this collection.
Q. You are showing at Paris Fashion Week later this year, do you have a favourite piece from your collection that will be on the catwalk?
A. I am in love with most of my creations. As a designer you will never release something that you do not like. Often, my absolute favorites are the garments that are not bestsellers.
Q. Your designs are known for being flattering, fashionable and luxuriously stylish, yet always with relaxing ease – how do you manage to keep your designs informal with such strong style?
A. This is an interesting question and hard to answer. I would guess, it is a mix of my personal approach on fashion design and the number one criteria for every garment in my collections: I must want to wear it by myself.
Q. Can we ask when you are at your most creative design-wise; are you a morning, afternoon or evening designer? And, where do your design-ideas come from?
A. This varies. I think I am more creative in the evenings, but more productive during the day. I love to find inspiration and recharge myself by enjoying a glass of wine with my friends and family or reading a good book on my own. I find a lot of inspiration through music, history, mythology and nature, but also things in my regular life inspire me from time to time.
Q. If you weren’t a fashion designer, what would you be doing right now?
A. If I was not into fashion, I might have become an interior designer or would love to work in an antique shop. I love antiquities.
Q. What are your immediate plans for Pavlina Jauss in the next few years, do you intend on expanding or bringing in new designers to work alongside you, or will you be focusing on fashion shows?
A. I really want to continue to evolve my brand in a slow and healthy way. Slower growth gives me the possibility to maintain full control over the quality of the garments we produce.
Q. Did anyone offer you any good business advice before you embarked on becoming a fashion designer, and do you still adhere to that advice now that you are running a successful business?
A. We jumped in at the deep end to be honest.
Q. What piece of advice would you give someone looking to get into the fashion industry?
A. The fashion business has changed dramatically in the past. Being brave, passionate and patient are essential skills of the successful people I know in that business. Creativity and diligence help as well.
Thank you for taking the time to answer all our #BossBabe questions for House of Coco Magazine online. #WomenWorldwide #GirlBoss
In May 2017 a brand new swimwear company was launched by Yasra Jaleel called Kandumathi, her designs of both bikini’s and costumes are beautifully made to sit perfectly on the female form.
Yasra’s latest designs are contemporary in style, and all are exquisitely crafted with beautiful finishing touches that offer a quality statement, and some of her bikini’s are uniquely mismatched in design.
Let us delve deeper into the mind of Yasra Jaleel to find out more about Kandumathi for the House of Coco Magazine #WomenWorldwide and #BossBabe interview series.
Q. Where did the name Kandumathi derive from?
A. Kandumathi is a Maldivian brand, specialising in bespoke swimwear. Kandumathi is a Maldivian phrase which invokes the ocean, and embodies the vulnerable, yet enduring nature of island life. We take inspiration from our natural environment and our culture, and work with local artists and designers to produce our unique look.
Q. Kandumathi is a Maldivian swimwear label, can you tell us the history, are you personally from the Maldives?
A. Kandumathi the brand was registered first in the Maldives in 2016 and then in London in 2017. I run the company along with my brother. Yes, I was born in the Maldives and moved to England in 2001. We have been running the company both in the Maldives and England since then. We have now been selling in 28 luxury resorts in the Maldives and across the globe.
Our Kandumathi philosophy is to use Maldivian art and artists, and we collaborate with local artists from the Maldives to create our unique designs. All our collections are water colour paintings by Maldivian artists Nadee Rachey and designed into swimwear by myself and Ahmed Fauzan. All our designs so far reflect the ocean around us, and marine life. Like the name of the brand, Maldivian life is firmly intertwined with the ocean.
Q. All the Kandumathi designs are eponymous with ethereal free flowing materials, can you tell us what materials you have used for your latest collection?
A. We are currently working with a manufacturer in Srilanka who uses recycled Nylon to produce swimwear and we are very excited to be able to work with sustainable material. As a brand from the Maldives, we understand the affects of plastic pollution and the damages it causes to our environment, and the great need for finding sustainable solutions.
Q. You are London-based, do you have a core British market that you sell to or do you mainly sell overseas?
A. Our main market is the tourist resorts in the Maldives and just recently we have started to sell across the globe. Although we are very young brand, we have been lucky to hold our swimwear in different outlets in London and New York.
Q. Your designs are beautiful and bold, do you design everything yourself, and what are this seasons styles?
A. We try not to focus on style seasons. We are influenced by the fact that the Maldives does not have the typical western seasons, and so our clothes don’t change from season to season. We also made a conscious decision not to create too many products too fast, as we understand the effects of manufacturing on the environment. We are also lucky to be in the Maldives as our resort customers change regularly and our first two collections have been doing very well.
Q. Can we ask when you are at your most creative design-wise; are you a morning, afternoon or evening designer? And, where do your design-ideas come from?
A. I am based in London and my work hours are a bit hectic as it is spread out in different time zones. I usually do office work during the day. My typical work day starts around 6am as Maldives is 5 hours ahead and continue to work through 9-5 London time. I believe I’m constantly inspired and I typically have a clear idea of what I want my designs to look like. The most fun part of my job is doing research on our designs, and learning about the marine life and it’s surroundings. For example for our latest collection we used sea shells and I had to learn about the formation of sea shells, it’s characteristics , life cycles as well as the designs on the shells. This work also teaches me more about the Maldives and its atoll formations, coral reefs, mangroves so on and so forth. We try and keep our designs very specific to Maldives.
Q. HOC. If you weren’t designing swimwear, what would you be doing right now?
A. I used to be a filmmaker before I started Kandumathi. I believe running this business is very similar to being a film producer. I would like to think that I am good at bringing together creative people and working with artists. I also have a strong idea of exactly what I want and I believe it is easy for the artists to work with me too.
Q. What are your immediate plans for Kandumathi in the next few years, do you intend on expanding to new markets?
A. Our immediate plans are to expand Kandumathi across the globe as much as we can and also start creating men’s collection.
Q. Did anyone offer you any strong business advice before you embarked on launching your swimwear brand?
A. I’m lucky to be surrounded by strong business minds within my family. I was brought up to believe in hard work, and if you work hard enough, you can do anything and to always dream big. I was very anxious when I started Kandumathi as I do not have any business background and have always been more of a creative person. Of course we’ve made some mistakes along the way but I always think twice before taking big risks; I am a cautious person. It also helps that I have my brother to bounce off ideas, as there is no one who would be more honest with me than my brother. It also helps that I know if I were to make a mistake he will always have my back.
Q. What piece of advice would you give someone looking to get into the swimwear industry?
A. My advice to anyone who wants to start a swimwear business is to pay attention to the female body and try not to focus too much on what other people are doing. Have a concrete idea and stick to it. And always rely on the people who work with you and trust your gut as well as the people you work with.
Thank you for taking the time to answer all our #WomenWorldwide questions for the #Bossbabe series at House of Coco Magazine online.
We’re joined by Lily Arkwright co founder and company MD, Lauren Shanks.
Lily Arkwright has redefined the standards for beautiful lab grown jewellery with vibrant collections of diamonds, moissanite and precious gemstones, ethically & sustainably produced and crafted in the UK.
Lily Arkwright has received a huge amount of hype and praise in recent years, with this in mind we delve deep into one of the names behind the brand and look into Lauren’s past to find out about her jewellery background, her love of sparkling jewels, and we want to know more about the precious stone moissanite.
Q. Can you tell our readers a little bit about Lily Arkwright, what sets you apart from other jewellery retailers?
A. We like to do things a little differently here at Lily Arkwright, no stuffy sales environment, amazing pricing and quality that really exceeds all expectations. Typically our customers can expect to save 90% on one of our popular moissanite set rings compared to a high street diamond equivalent. We find these savings really help when planning a wedding or honeymoon.
Consumers shouldn’t feel pressured into utilising their savings pot or overspending on a diamond engagement ring, we find couples often place more value on life experiences and purchasing a moissanite or lab grown diamond engagement ring helps achieve this.
Q. Is a moissanite gemstone the same as a diamond, is there any difference visually?
A. Moissanite is in fact rarer than diamonds and was initially mistaken as a diamond when first discovered, for this reason the vast majority of moissanite is now lab grown and engineered to give the illusion of similarity to diamonds.
We’re proud authorised Charles & Colvard retailers and set moissanite stones in all our rings as standard. Charles & Colvard are the original moissanite produces and their stones are really the very premium quality moissanite stones available today.
We’re obviously huge moissanite fans but really do believe in choice and set lab diamonds, Chatham couloured precious gemstones including rubies, emeralds and sapphires in all our collections.
Q. Does your working career stem from within the jewellery industry, or did you come from a different business sector?
A. I actually started out in fashion design and subsequently moved into fine jewellery several years ago. Fine jewellery has always been a passion of mine, when the opportunity arose to combine my passion for fine jewellery and my experience within eCommerce and the digital space It was impossible to refuse.
My professional career for the past 15 years has been tremendously exciting working within the luxury brands sector within digital, eCom Management and operations & retail.
Q. HOC. Your designs start in price from around £300 and rise to around £4,000 – do you have a current favourite piece from your collections?
A. Gosh, I have so many favourites. The Giselle, Eden and Annora, the list is endless!
I love the Grace classic solitaire, its elegant, classic and timeless, this setting really does show off the centre stone setting in the best possible light.
I wear a customised version of the cushion cut Lavender for my engagement ring, and am I having 3.0mm wide full set band for my wedding ring. We’re actually introducing this design as the Aurelia band as part of our new collection later this summer.
I really enjoy mixing my metals and often wear rose alongside my white gold and platinum rings.
Q. Do you wear your own Lily Arkwright designs along with any other designer jewellery brands, or do you only wear Lily Arkwright?
A. I do, I genuinely love the collections we produce and the team and I are forever personally testing new Lily Arkwright designs. It really helps to fully trial a design and there’s no better way than wearing one.
I’ve recently been trialing a lightweight petite three stone Lorella ring, with a moissanite centre stone and lab grown blue Chatham sapphires on the middle finger of my right hand for the last few weeks, I’ve had so many lovely compliments and the band is actually a really comfortable fit even at 1.75mm.
I frequently wear a select few other designer jewellery brands alongside my Lily Arkwright jewellery, I love to see how designers interpret trends.
I also never take out my Sena moissanite platinum stud earrings, these go with almost any outfit and occasion!
Q. Your Instagram @LilyArkwrightUK showcases some of your designs beautifully; do you find social media helps to promote your brand?
A. Absolutely, social media is great to showcase some of our beautiful collections and is essential for us. Our Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and other profiles helps our customers quickly view some of our favorite designs with photos and videos readily available.
Q. Did you have to take any specialist courses in fine jewellery or art design before you launched Lily Arkwright?
A. I was fortunate to have studied Fashion design whilst at university and my family come from a jewellery background so this provided me with a really strong understanding of the fine jewellery market. This was obviously only the start and it took us a number of years of market testing, pop up shops and market stalls before Lily Arkwright was finally born.
We’ve come a long way since those early days and are now proud Assay Assured jewellers retailers and members of the National Association of jewellers. Our teams are JET trained and our workshop have some of the most skilled and experienced bench workers in the United Kingdom. We offer free UK & European shipping and delivery worldwide.
Q. Did anyone offer you any useful business advice before you launched Lily Arkwright that you still use to this day?
A. I’ve had so many wonderful mentors throughout my professional career and I’ve always tried to remember and more importantly implement useful advice, it almost becomes a habit.
In my experience nothing is more imperative than, honesty, hard work, integrity and smart working. This is something that both myself and fellow directors really impress upon our colleagues on a daily basis.
Q. If you were to offer one piece of advice to someone thinking of getting into the jewellery sector, what would it be?
A. Working within the jewellery sector is both extremely challenging and rewarding, in particular bridal jewellery. You have the honour of helping a happy couple make one of the single most important purchases they’ll ever make, something that will grace a bride’s finger for the rest of time and be passed down through family generations in the future, the thought of it gives me goosebumps!
My advice would be to follow your heart, if you love jewellery and enjoy helping people there’s really no limit to what you can achieve. Doing something that interests you and drives your passion is immensely rewarding and benefits you, your employer and the people you serve, your customers.
Q. What are your plans for the future, do you expect Lily Arkwright to move into the high street?
A. I’m tremendously excited about what the future holds for Lily Arkwright, we’ve only recently moved into a new larger office space and continue to grow the team making strategic hires and new appointments.
We have a number of opportunities available on the high street and have recently opened our very own consultation space in our Didsbury head office. This has been invaluable for our customers who can find it difficult to visualise some of our lab grown diamond alternative engagement rings.
In addition to our recent accomplishments, after a number of years in trials we’ve recently rolled out our very own brand moissanite, Lumoie by Lily Arkwright, this stone which was initially aimed at our value pieces is now available in most of our popular rings.
Thank you for taking the time to answer all our #BossBabe questions for House of Coco Magazine.
Our latest #BossBabe interview is with jewellery designer Clémence Devaux of the brand NYF Jewellery, she says, “Jewellery should be fun, easy to wear, beautiful and personal”. And, we at #TeamCoco fully agree.
Luxury online demi-fine jewellery retailer NYF Jewellery is an easy-to-wear urban chic minimalistic brand, with a stunning selection of delicate rings, bracelets, pendants and earrings made with love and care.
Let’s find out more…
Q. Does your working career stem from within the jewellery industry, or did you come from a different business sector?
A. Not born in a family of jewellers, I started out on my own in the jewellery industry a little over 10 years ago. I started at Christie’s Auction House in Paris, in the Jewellery department. Since Christie’s, I worked as the Head of Jewellery for William&Son, a british luxury brand. And I have recently launched 2 companies, NYF Jewellery and Clémence Devaux Consulting. As well as being the Creative Director of NYF, I offer to help Jewellery brands with gemology services and product development. NYF is a passion project and something I have been wanting to do for ages, arguably something I was always meant to be doing.
Q. We aware that you are a family run business, how many of your family are currently part of NYF Jewellery?
A. Three members of my family are part of NYF. But as with every big family, everyone is part of it. Even if its only to give an opinion over sunday lunch. My mother, Caroline, is our COO and handles all the day to day. My brother, Edouard, is our CFO and is in charge of the website and IT matters. He designed our website. And as the Creative Director, I develop everything to do with the products (design and manufacturing) and marketing. These roles were attributed completely organically as it best suits each of our skills.
Q. You are a gemologist that specialises in real diamonds set in gold, can you tell us why you decided to only work with diamonds and not with any other gem, such as a ruby or emerald?
A. We haven’t yet said “no” to the rest of the coloured stone world. We have a (long-term) plan to include them. But for now, we want to stick with diamonds and pearls as they are the most wearable gems and can be worn with anything. I like to say that diamonds are like punctuation and complete a look as punctuation would a sentence.
Q. Did you have to undertake any specialist courses to become a gemologist, and can you tell us what a gemologist is and does?
A. I have studied gemology at the GIA, the international authority when it comes to grading diamonds and gems. I am a Graduate Gemologist, which means that I am an expert in Diamonds and Gemstones and I am able to assist in the grading and purchasing of both. I am also able to identify the fake from the real, which is key considering lab-made “diamonds” are a hot topic right now.
Q. Your jewellery designs are all reasonably priced, starting at around £125 and rise to under £1,000 – do you have a current favourite piece from your collection at a mid-range price of around £500?
A. Being a demi-fine jewellery brand, our aim is to make natural diamond jewellery accessible. We try really hard to keep our prices as low as we can, all the while making sure the quality is of the high jewellery level. My absolute favourite piece in our collection is our Logo Ring, inspired by the 1920’s plaque rings. I wear it all the time. The demi-pave version comes at £470.
Q. Do you wear your own NYF Jewellery designs along with any other designer jewellery brands, or do you only wear NYF?
A. I absolutely do mix NYF with other pieces. Our jewels are meant to blend in with your everyday look. I stack our rings with my engagement ring. I wear family heirlooms with them. Times have changed in terms of jewellery wearing. We don’t wear it so formally anymore, and I love that. You can find some inspiration on how I style my different pieces on my own Instagram account @clemencelovesdiamonds. It is a sort of behind the scenes of my job.
Q. HOC. Do you find that social media helps to promote your brand, if so which social media channels are you using, and does a specific platform work better for your business?
A. Social medias are essential for an e-commerce brand and it has helped us greatly. We are on Facebook and Instagram. Instagram particularly helps as it is a visual platform and suits perfectly the ambiance we want to share. However, it has become really hard to stand out in such busy platforms. And I am not an expert at it either, but we all work hard at trying to share our passion on our @nyfjewellery profile.
Q. Did anyone offer you any useful business advice before you and your family launched NYF Jewellery?
A. “Trust your instincts” is the best advice I was given while studying gemology and I have actually been doing this all my life.
Q. Did anyone offer you any bad business advice that you followed, and later wished you hadn’t?
A. “Trust your instincts” ? indeed, sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.
Q. If you were to offer one piece of advice to someone thinking of getting into the industry of jewellery design, what would it be?
A. I would advise anyone who wants to enter the jewellery industry to be patient and to work hard. I didn’t come from a Jewellery background and have worked my way in. The Jewellery industry is a very small world and reputation is key. We exchange diamonds on hand shakes and know we can trust each other as our reputation precedes us. It’s a small family and I have loved being part of it so far. If you are passionate about it, you will feel right at home.
Thank you for taking the time to answer all our #BossBabe questions for House of Coco Magazine.
Olivia Conlon, aka Liv of The Hustle and The Property Stagers is a British entrepreneur, who in her mid-teens launched a brand in which she earned £30k annually, which escalated into £1 million by the time she was just 19 years old – let’s find out more about this super cool young woman who has gone on to inspire many others with her motivational up-scaling.
Q. HOC. What happened at the age of just 16, which made you wake up one morning and become this unique entrepreneur?
A. Liv. My mum was involved in property when I was 15, she had bought and renovated an apartment, it was on the market for 3 months and it wasn’t selling. I always had an interest in interior design so I decided to stage the property and it sold within 3 days. I loved it and knew this is exactly what I wanted to do when I left school.
Q. HOC. Did you always know from school-age that you were destined to become a young entrepreneur, or did you have entirely different ambitions in your early teens?
A. Liv. I had always known from a young age that I wanted to be my own boss. I started my first business on Ebay when I was 13, so when the time came to decide whether I wanted to stay on at school or leave, it was an easy decision for me to start my business ThePropertyStagers.
Q. HOC. When and where did ThePropertyStagers come from, and how far down the line did it become such a successful business?
A. Liv. As I mentioned, ThePropertyStagers was born out of struggling to sell a property, as most great business ideas are. It has taken a couple of years for the business to achieve the success it has and a lot of hard work! I am still really involved in growing ThePropertyStagers which I am so passionate about, but I am fortunate enough to have a great team, that has allowed me to go on and live my passion of supporting other entrepreneurs in their journey to scale through my new venture The Hustle.
Q. HOC. Tell us more about scaling up, and The Hustle strapline; ‘For Entrepreneurs Who Dare to Scale’.
A. Liv. Scaling your business is a challenging path, it’s a very exciting time but there is so much that you can never be prepared for. I use the word ‘dare’ as the rewards are big but it takes a strong belief in yourself, in your business and you must be a risk taker. Scale too quickly and It can be detrimental, but if you have the right support system it can be the making of your business. That’s why I created The Hustle, an online platform and coaching group to support entrepreneurs on this journey.
Q. HOC. How did you personally scale up to go from earning £30k to earning £1 million in such a short period of time?
A. Liv. I can’t actually put the journey into words, it has involved an unbelievable amount of hard work. 17 hour days, 7 days a week. It has been the most challenging thing I have ever done. I would say you need determination, grit, and an endless amount of resilience. Also having a coach or someone who is more successful than you who can guide you has been priceless in scaling.
Q. HOC. Are you still learning as you build your brand, have you taken any business courses, or are you winging it as you go?
A. Liv. I learn something new every single day in business and I love that! Sometimes quite painful lessons but it is how you view them and learn from them that is most important. I have invested a lot into my education and personal development having been on several Tony Robbins courses and I also have a personal business coach. This has accelerated my business success massively!
Q. HOC. We love a strong, determined, young businesswoman, do you thrive from being all of these things, and do you surround yourself with other likeminded women?
A. Liv. One of my favourite things about the success I have had so far is being able to share my story with others and inspire them to follow their own path too. It is so important to surround yourself with other women who are more successful than you, and it’s something I endeavor to do with any chance possible. I work alongside my mum everyday in my business which is amazing, she was my inspiration to be an entrepreneur, I am very grateful!
Q. HOC. Were you offered any business advice that you have taken but wished you hadn’t?
A. Liv. That’s a tricky one. I was advised to only hire people I know, on hindsight, I wouldn’t. I think it can be complicated to mix business and personal.
Q. HOC. If you weren’t running The Property Stagers and The Hustle right now, what would you be doing?
A. Liv. If I wasn’t running The Property Stagers or The Hustle right now I am sure I would own another type of business. I have never worked for anyone else in my life, I just couldn’t imagine doing that.
Q. HOC. If you were to offer a young entrepreneur a single piece of advice what would it be?
A. Liv. I could write a book of advice! But I would say it is “Stay in the One Lane and don’t care what anyone thinks of you.” This for me has been vital to my success, there has been so many things I’ve had to do that have been totally outside of my comfort zone, had I cared what others thought, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Thank you for taking the time in your hectic schedule to answer our #BossBabe questions.
