Lena Bernard is more than just your favorite Anthropologie jewelry line. In fact, Lena Bernard is the artist herself, sharing her name with the brand (like our very own Sunday Riley).
Bernard, who stumbled into designing jewelry after taking a metal sculpture class, says she approached Anthropologie about their partnership and the collaboration has flourished as she works to make jewelry specifically for the team. “I had my eye on them for a long time, watching their jewelry style grow more interesting and artistic over the years,” she says.
And so, Bernard became known for her striking, yet feminine pieces. “I think my style is eclectic and edgy with a contemporary touch,” she says. “I love working in brass because the natural oxidation deepens the golden color.”
Trained in Southern California and Italy, Bernard is able to make her inspiration read in her work. “I love the look of raw and untamed jewelry … big chains, big gems and big silhouettes. I am very inspired by old Etruscan and medieval jewelry, they are simple yet have deep appeal,” Bernard explains.
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Design aside, there is one thing Bernard is clearly proud of: fair trade manufacturing. “Lena Bernard was founded with the focus to make beautiful jewelry without compromising skilled artistry and craftsmanship,” she says. Crafted in her studios in Bali, Bernard says each piece is handmade.
“There is nothing more beautiful than the natural imperfections that are visible from an artist’s hand. I love working with my artisans, and I’m always looking to make things more efficient and sustainable for them. I support community empowered projects and am proud to help them achieve their goals and enable them to support their families,” she adds. “The artisans who work with me are the heart and soul of my jewelry.”
And with the support of her artisans, Bernard says she constantly evolves her product. “I don’t like to be trapped into a mold or have to use the same elements every collection to be recognized, that is not my goal. I create what I feel for the season, which changes all the time.”
Bernard for one, is tired of the dainty trend — she wants to say goodbye to micro jewelry. “I personally love bigger, bolder jewelry … my collections are not for the faint of heart, they are for the confident woman.”
And as for what’s next in the jewelry landscape? She has a few ideas: trends focused around bigger, chunkier chains and gemstones. Of course, we are entering summer, which means “lighter colors and shells [and] being frivolous and bold in the sun with your jewelry,” she says.
But for her, fall is what she is most excited about. “This fall, our accessories will lean toward darker hues of blues, greens and terracottas reminiscent of the darkening sky and falling leaves. It’s time for being confident, trusting your intuition, being outspoken and strong. The jewelry will reflect that and be in bigger silhouettes.”
