By Pariah

Following a career in luxury fashion PR, Sophie found herself disillusioned with the cyclical nature of the fashion industry; seasonality, following trends, the new and the next. A creative spirit and a trained silversmith Sophie set out to build a new generation of luxury brand.

German born, hailing from Munich but educated in England, Sophie has an instinctive understanding of understated elegance; of subtle style signifiers that speak volumes. Combine that with an innate desire to create and a strong vision for her brand aesthetic you have the perfect melting pot.

Sophie's process is intuitive, with a keen sculptural eye she creates new silhouettes as an extension of those that have come before; always seeking to highlight the raw, natural beauty of the materials she employs.

HELLO SOPHIE, WE ARE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME BY PARIAH AT WHITEBIRD. WELCOME! 

1. CAN YOU PRESENT YOURSELF AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY?  
I grew up in Munich but have lived in London for the past 14 years with a brief interlude in South America. I didnt take the traditional route to jewellery making, my journey is one of self-discovery and learning by doing. 

2. WHERE DOES YOUR LOVE FOR JEWELLERY COME FROM? 
Definitely my childhood – I was obsessed with beads. There is this store in Munich where I would spend days crafting. I recently cleared out the cupboard in my childhood bedroom at my parents’ house and you wouldn’t believe the sea of creations I found. I don’t make our jewellery myself now but I design, the part of By Pariah I love the most.

3. WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO LAUNCH BY PARIAH AND WHAT WAS THE FIRST PIECE YOU CREATED?  
I was working in the London press office for Giorgio Armani at the time and HQ had shut down for the whole of August so the pace had slowed down. I realised that whilst being creative I missed actually creating. I had learnt how to make jewellery in school, how to solder and set stones. This creative outlet always stuck with me and kept drawing me back in and I decided to just go for it ! I then of course had a few learning years.. One of the first pieces I created was the Gold Linings Ring which is still the perfect visual for my brand – clean but sculptural. 

 4. WHAT IS THE MEANING BEHIND THE NAME OF YOUR BRAND, BY PARIAH? 
I read an article in the National Geographic about what they referred to as ‘the Pariah parts of the Caribbean’. The article described this natural and raw part of the Caribbean as one of the last frontiers of remote, untouched beauty and when I launched the brand I knew I wanted to recreate that sentiment - my jewellery would be an homage to the raw materials that it was made from.

5. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS? WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN INSPIRATIONS? 
First and foremost I look at the materials I’m working with, the colours and stones I love and how I can get the most from those raw materials. They definitely have their say in the creative conversation. A unique gemstone or a particularly intriguing metal can gently nudge our design in an unexpected direction. 

My pieces are quite sculptural so there is a lot of inspiration found in architecture and in the natural world. I’ve always had an appreciation for nature; not in a naturalist way, but in the curves and forms of the earth and its raw materials, and this echoes in how I design - architectural, but bold and smooth.

6. WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE ARTISTS? 
Rothko, Giacometti and recent discoveries – Bruer Tidman, Chris Soal & Kyle Meyer

7. ALL YOUR CREATIONS ARE MADE FROM 100% RECYCLED MATERIALS AND NATURAL STONES. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU? 
Nature is at the core of my brand - from the birth of my designs to the way I source materials, all the way to our after-care services. Ethical sourcing is not just important; it's an absolute priority for us. I believe that beauty should be matched by responsibility. This involves working closely with suppliers who share our values and prioritise sustainable practices. Craftsmanship and design are the other cornerstones. Above all, our collections are designed and made to be worn and loved for as long as possible. I believe in season-less pieces that can be passed down from generation to generation, that are durable and transcend time. We find purpose, and sustainability, in durability.

8. DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL FAVOURITE JEWEL THAT YOU WEAR ALL THE TIME? IF SO, what DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU ? 
I wear my classic ring stack in Moss Agate everyday – the rings are simple, tactile and playful, but once combined they create magic. I love the unadorned hard stone, sparkling diamond pave and simple gold highlighting the natural beauty of the materials they’re made of.

9. WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE IF YOU HAD NOT BECOME A JEWELLERY DESIGNER? 
Something with Food !! It’s my other big love! 

 10. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A YOUNG DESIGNER WHO IS STARTING OUT? 
Dont be afraid to experiment, make mistakes and ask questions – no matter how insignificant they feel. 

11. HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF JEWELLERY?  
It’s all about longevity and sustainability and having an open dialog with the consumer. Jewellery is an emotional purchase and where and how the product is made plays a big role in this. 

12. ANY PROJECT FOR BY PARIAH THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US? 
I’m working on an exciting project with a RTW brand that I have admired for long, more to be revealed soon!