Tell us a bit about you and Monocrafft.
I started Monocrafft in 2014 when I was in search of a new challenge while I was working as a fashion stylist at a corporate clothing brand for a couple of years. During my job I went to evening classes where I learned the craft of metal smithing. It had a meditative influence on me, working on a very tiny object for hours, thinking about nothing else. What started as a hobby turned out into a successful jewelry brand with a wonderful team, worldwide sales carried solely by our own website and store & atelier in Rotterdam. My jewelry is known for its delicate and detailed designs, without unnecessary decorative additions. I like to integrate the efficiency of a closure or a pendant into the design, which sometimes comes out as a little mathematic project at first sight, but as soon as it’s worn it all makes sense. Everything is handcrafted in silver or gold in my atelier in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

You state that you see your jewelry as sort of protective talismans for the big journey called life and your inspirations stem from numerous points from ancient patterns, ethnic tribes, the shapes of shadows, and also music. Can you tell us a bit more about that?
Because I wear my jewelry around the clock, it goes with me everywhere, just like keeping a talisman. And when I do forget to put it on after working out for example, I feel “naked” and a bit restless. My jewelry has become a part of me and as silver or gold will age by time, it tells a story by all its little scratches and “scars”. This is also the feedback I get from my customers, a lot of them become Monocrafft collectors, as my designs are timeless and solid quality they will add bit by bit new pieces. In general they have a lot of graphic lines and symbols. I get inspired by shadow plays, as they make interesting and mysterious dark images in motion and beautiful patterns. Another inspiration for me are ancient tribes, their traditional customs and the way they decorate themselves to show what they stand for, especially their jewelry and their placements, it inspires me he how beautifully crafted and authentic it all looks and how it unites the whole family or tribe. Music definitely inspires me as well, but more in a spherical way than a specific song used as a concept.