Maria

Maria
Black and her eponymous jewellery label have the fashion
crowd in a frenzy. The young Danish designer has taken her
Goldsmiths degree and translated it into sculptural styles that
resonate with people around the world. Her designs have been
quickly swept up by celebs, bloggers and fashion editors alike. A
range of A-listers from Alexa Chung to the Kardashians have been
spotted wearing her earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings. And
it’s no wonder. The brand seamlessly merges edge and elegance. It
holds its own identity but allows its wearers individuality and
uniqueness. Pieces can be worn alone or stacked and styled. They’ll
elevate your daily uniform or act as the final touch to your
evening attire.

To top it off, the designer has the personality to match. When
SUITCASE chatted with Black, she was brimming with passion for her
work and a general excitement for life.

Name

Maria Black

Designer

Maria Black

Origin

Started out in London 2010 but has
been Copenhagen
based since 2015.

Type of brand

Silver fashion jewellery and fine gold fashion jewellery.

Where can we find your designs?

Maria
Black, Net-a-Porter, Liberty, Browns and more (full retailer list at Maria
Black).

Who is the ideal Maria Black customer?

Maria Black is not for everyone but everyone is welcome. By this
I mean that no matter age, gender, creed or country, it is about
the love that you feel for a piece when you see it, the love for
pure uncluttered design no matter how or why you choose to wear
it.

How did your degree in Goldsmiths influence your work?

Hugely. Being able to make the pieces myself gives me the
opportunity to work with them on every level and make the jump from
idea to realisation. I don’t think I would have become a jewellery
designer without having my Goldsmiths’ degree.

The moment you realised your passion could become a
career…

The first time someone bought one of my little homemade wire
earrings that I made in Ibiza – and that someone wasn’t my mom or a
friend.

What sets your designs apart from other jewellery on the
market?

Most brands in high-fashion jewellery have their own style so I
think it is hard to compare, but for me personally, it’s my
dedicated approach to design. There is a distinct design profile
and it’s timeless. You can wear these pieces ten years from now and
they will still feel current.

Your jewellery is perfectly paired with…

Anything from a T-shirt to a polka-dot dress. The rules are out
the window (thank god). I love to see how people style everything
differently – it’s very inspiring.

Can you tell us a bit about your heritage?

I’m half-Danish and half-Irish so I grew up in Copenhagen
feeling like the world was my home. I don’t come from an artistic
background, more working class, but from early age I was all about
playing classical music and drawing. My mum was always good at
telling me how talented I was so I believed in myself. Thank god I
chose drawing over music though! I lived in Dublin
for a number of years but as soon as I came to London (my first
time when I was 15) it was love at first sight. It felt like
home.

How has your background influenced your designs?

There is no denying my Danish design heritage. It’s very
obvious. Yet my years in London gave me an edge. I always say that
my designs are the love child between Copenhagen and London.

Best-kept secret in Copenhagen…

That you can get to a gorgeous sandy beach within ten minutes of
the city centre. How amazing is that?

What aspects of British and Danish style do you combine to
cultivate your style?

My very first collection was inspired by the punk rockers of
Camden coupled with a Danish minimalist aesthetic. To me, it was
the most natural thing in the world. If you took all of the
hardware and separated it, the look was so inherently cool. I apply
this work method to everything now: deconstruct – construct.

The must-have piece from your most recent collection…

I love the hydra maxi earring; it has the ability to work with a
range of looks from clean Celine to rock goddess. It’s a statement
piece and one earring is enough. Mix, don’t match.

How does travel influence your work?

I love people watching whenever I travel. I find that it’s
better to watch people on the street than to look at what’s in the
shops. People, not brands, dictate the future.

Explain the process of conceptualising a new collection…

It’s the easiest and most complicated of processes. I laughed my
ass of once when Karl Lagerfeld was asked how he got his
inspiration. Being design royalty he dryly commented: “Either you
have ideas, or you don’t.” That pretty much sums it up. I get a few
ideas and work through it until something comes out on top and I am
as close to satisfied as I can hope to be.

One of the most inspiring places you’ve travelled…

London to me, is the epicentre of everything. I am a city girl,
the countryside is okay once in a while but I feel alive and
vibrant in big cities. That’s where I get my inspiration and drive
from.

Where’s next on your bucket list?

Completely to the contrary to what I just said, my next bucket
list adventure is horseback riding in
Iceland with a group of girlfriends for the pure bliss of
nature, tranquillity and quality time with my friends.

What’s next for Maria Black?

My plan for the future is to expand my online presence, make
waves in Japan
and make sure my team and I have a blast every day. Also, I want to
get a second piercing and love the shit out of life. Best. plan.
ever.