Handcrafted luxury jewelry designer Isabel Englebert fuses traditional and modern materials with avant-garde design. Forbes Argentina recognized her as one of their 35 Under 35 List, and Lauryn Hill buys and wears her couture designs. Not bad for just turning 30 in January. Accomplishments aside, ask her who she is, and the reply is a simple, “I’m a designer.” Focusing on jewelry for now, her line shares a concept, uniqueness, and above all, the unexpected. Recently, she presented a capsule collection of original Japanese kimonos accessorized with a metal obi. “I feel it is really important to follow instinct and vision and never forget what you like. If you design a jewel you would wear, half of the success is (already) on your side. People recognize the authenticity in the brand,” she says. Born in Argentina, she started her relationship with fashion as a model 15 years ago. Working in the corporate world, she seized the opportunity of traveling around the world through her job, to learn, investigate and experience fashion in different places. Only a few years ago, she decided to refocus on the fashion world. She studied design at Central Saint Martins in London and completed a series of courses with goldsmiths. In 2014, she completed L’Ecole Van Cleef & Arpels in Paris. Her first collection was a clothing line, but jewelry allowed her to be more creative without following too many trends. She focused on special and eternal designs. “I’m convinced that every woman should have at least one loving jewel that defines her and makes her feel special,” says Englebert. “My creations are designed for fashion-forward individuals, who value top quality, attention to detail and modern and unique design. They are not afraid to stand out in the crowd.” With a showroom in Buenos Aires for her bespoke business, designers in Argentina making capsule collections to accompany and complete the haute couture collections, selling at Harvey Nichols in the UK, and more recently in Miami and Palm Beach, she desires to continue growing in awareness and brand presence in very selected places and retailers. This spring, she will have an inaugural event in Palm Beach in conjunction with the polo season there.
Englebert on her favorite designers: “I love Saint Laurent, Balmain, what Shaun Leane does for Alexander McQueen, and I admire Iris Van Herpen. Although she works with clothes, I really admire her way of treating materials, of investigating and trying always new techniques, and uses of materials.” Englebert on that feeling her bag gives you: I want (customers) to feel as their true self, but “reloaded,” their best version, unique and empowered. Englebert on social media: “I believe social media has changed the way people relate, and the fashion industry is not exception, furthermore its his best friend, they are the perfect camera in which to show its qualities, for storytelling and it also works the other way around, through social media, brands also understand more their customers. All of the big brands, and those who wish to be great, have websites, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and some even online sales platforms. Instagram is definitely the top social media for fashion fans, whether it is to show news, reveal intimate details of behind the scenes or to share objects that are inspirational for designers.”