Jewelry designer Solange Azagury-Partridge tells us what makes her tick.
At residence with Solange Azagury-Partridge
Solange Azagury-Partridge
(Picture credit score: Solange Azagury-Partridge)
Wallpaper*: The place are you at the second? What are you able to see?
Solange: I’m in my bed room. I can see the tree from my bed room window. From my mattress actually, the place I are usually by default. I benefit from the sound of silence. The noise inside my head could be very loud, so I can’t actually take heed to music or podcasts until I’m doing nothing apart from that. I favor to see than hear. Imagery or the written phrase converse louder to me than sounds. I take pleasure in music to bop to, or for nights out in town. My desk is the place I sit if I must focus extra. My desk is black-painted, brown leather-topped, gold-embossed Nineteenth-century French.
The place do you reside? Describe your road, neighbourhood/space?
We dwell in Paddington/Bayswater in London. Near the station and Kensington Gardens. It feels nameless, with all of the vacationers strolling round, but additionally very neighbourly. We’ve lived right here for 30 years. I even went to junior college round right here. I work simply across the nook from residence. Numerous acquainted faces. It’s so central and handy. Near Portobello and Notting hill, we will stroll to most locations in London by way of all of the parks that join one to the opposite, Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Inexperienced Park, St James Park, wonderful.
What’s the very last thing you acquire?
A pair of Martin Margiela Tabi ankle boots in silver leather-based. They’re such an icon of design and I’ve wished some for ages. I didn’t suppose there was any level in going for a sensible color.
Azagury-Partridge’s cottage in Somerset
(Picture credit score: Solange Azagury-Partridge)
What’s the final telephone name you made?
I name my mum most days. She’s the household matriarch and works so laborious taking good care of everybody. She’s full of affection and compassion. She has so a lot vitality and has labored all her life and doesn’t appear to be slowing down. She has famously good hair, and is so younger trying.
The final object you misplaced? Will you change it?
My mouth guard. I put on it at evening to cease grinding my tooth. It makes me really feel relaxed and safe. I sleep higher with it figuring out my tooth are secure. it’s clearly not very enticing however I’ll positively be changing it.
The place and when do you discover you might be best?
At residence. Within the quiet. At my desk the place I can get my head straight. Formulate concepts and make plans and lists. I should be organised. When issues are clear, I can then go to the workplace to share with my crew.
Favorite place, wherever in the world? And why?
Somerset. Our little cottage. Arriving and opening the automobile doorways and smelling the air which is truthfully like an beautiful fragrance mixed with birdsong and the inexperienced that surrounds us and I’m instantly in heaven. A heaven on earth. I by no means thought I’d adapt simply to spending time within the nation. I’m such a Londoner. I didn’t see the English countryside till I used to be 14. I be certain that to have a beautiful stroll daily in that tremendous air. My son and his household dwell shut by so we see them once we’re there. Now we have so many enjoyable buddies within the space so we will select to isolate or socialise.
(Picture credit score: Solange Azagury-Partridge)
If Wallpaper got here for dinner, what would you prepare dinner us?
In the meanwhile, it might be a tacky garlicky mash, with a bean stew – a number of onion, peppers, tomatoes and 4 various kinds of beans, and a roast hen. With a chocolate cake and berries with cream or ice cream for dessert.
What’s the one factor (in your artistic discipline) you want you had designed or invented?
A hoop carved from a stable piece of emerald. Not very business however such an excellent concept. I noticed it in a museum exhibition of the Royal jewels of Qatar.
Who would play you in a film of your life?
On a superb day it might be Monica Belluci, lovely and serene, and on a foul day it might be Mrs Trunchbull. Perhaps they might each be in it, à la Buñuel.
What are you studying, and what do you consider it?
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto. It’s fairly an previous e-book (Eighties) that’s been reissued. It’s a touching, candy story about the way in which love creeps up on you. It’s additionally so attention-grabbing to learn a Japanese voice and sensibility, which is so completely different from an Anglo-Saxon or European one.
Favorite indulgence and why?
A complete day in mattress. I in all probability handle this as soon as each five-ish weeks. I spend the day dozing, studying, watching stuff, telephone calls, consuming. I’m at all times amazed how rapidly time passes once I’m being that lazy. Amazingly, I am nonetheless in a position to sleep correctly the next evening. I appear and feel nice for days after. Very restorative.
Azagury-Partridge’s jewelry
(Picture credit score: Solange Azagury-Partridge)
What’s inspiring you proper now?
Design is 90 per cent perspiration, and 10 per cent Inspiration. Isn’t that the saying? Inspiration is pure luck and fairly random. Often an concept will hit me out of the blue. However even then, it takes work to excellent.
How do you turn off? Do you turn off?
If attainable, I like watching one thing unchallenging on TV after which spending an hour studying in mattress to clear my head. At all times fiction. The studying half is probably the most important bit. In any other case, I can’t get to sleep and wake unrefreshed.
Favorite materials to work with and why?
24ct gold. It’s so smooth and pure. I just lately made some rings for my Stable assortment referred to as ‘The Shapeshifters’ utilizing 24ct. That manner, the ring adjustments gently over time in a manner that’s very particular and private to the wearer.
What one piece of recommendation would you give to the subsequent era?
Simply begin working as quickly as you end college or Uni. Earn cash and achieve some independence. It doesn’t actually matter what the job entails. Even doing one thing garbage helps you’re employed out what you wish to do faster than ready for the universe to current you with the right function. Doing is sweet to your psychological well being.
What’s been your largest failure and what did it train you?
Promoting my firm and my title a number of years in the past. I’ve lastly learnt that natural progress in a enterprise is at all times one of the simplest ways. Fast growth is like forcing a bud to flower when the petals don’t but exist. I ended up shopping for again my firm, and my title, ten years in the past. It is so liberating to make your personal guidelines and choices. Any success or failure is right down to you. Independence in creativity is the whole lot.
Who’s your dream collaborator?
I’d like to work with a hotelier. I can just about design and make something I need in jewelry. However my different love is interiors. A small lodge could be nice. I could make wherever really feel snug, cosy and an thrilling place to be. Isn’t that what a lodge wants?
What’s prime of your to-do record?
To complete all of the items I’ve been engaged on that I’ve uncared for throughout the push to get my new Hotlips Boutique open, and devise a brand new assortment for subsequent 12 months.
The brand new Hotlips Boutique is open now in London’s Bayswater at 25 Chilworth Avenue (opens in new tab). The brand new ‘Kiss My lips’ Eau De Fragrance launches on 15 January 2023
solange.co.uk (opens in new tab)
Supply: Wallpaper
