5 Minutes With... Kassandra Lauren Gordon

Kassandra Lauren Gordon jewellery satiates the desire of professional women for handmade precious pieces with character that can be worn seamlessly in professional and casual contexts. We spent five minutes with Kassandra to get a closer look at the brand...

What made you decide to start a jewellery brand?

To start with I was just creating jewellery for the sake of it. It was only after a short time that I considered what the meaning of my work and my values were. Favourite jewellery can be very personal. It carries memories and eventually a personal symbolism. What I considered important was to be able, as a woman, to carry these into whatever context we find ourselves, including professional environments. That hasn’t always been my experience at work so I wanted to change that.

Once I'd made the decision to make jewellery, I started learning at Holts Academy in Hatton Gardens. I studied evenings and weekends as well as working full time. Eventually I built a studio at home in Hackney to continue when I wasn’t at school. My pieces were picked up by stockists in East and West London not long after graduating and I had my first show at Craft Central. Since then I’ve been at IJL, traded in markets and set up my own website.

Have you always been interested in fashion?

I developed an interest in fashion when I moved to London seven years ago. I started really thinking about how to stand out from others and create my own style. Eventually I decided the answer was to create. Jewellery was the option that spoke the most to me.

What have been the highest and lowest points on your journey so far?

My recurring high point is when people who buy my jewellery say kind things and tell their friends.

My recurring low point is accounting.

What was the inspiration behind your latest collection?

My collection is about the expansiveness of space as an inspiration for the womens’ ambition – or how ambitious women should be. ‘Reach for the stars’. There are so many stars, we can all have our own definition of success.

Do you ever struggle to stay inspired?

Inspiration is not a problem for me. However, realising ideas takes time because of production techniques and the cost of precious metals.

Where is your go-to meeting spot?

The Hoxton, Shoreditch.

How would you describe your customer base?

As wonderful, wonderful people. In addition, I have a lot of professional women buying from me. I think it’s because my style can be worn in most professional and casual environments. A large segment is men buying for their wives and daughters.

Is there anyone you would love to see wearing your designs?

I would love Bjork or Paloma Faith to wear my designs because they are just so creative and idiosyncratic. Whatever they create is so immensely, visually beautiful, I would feel amazing if they chose to wear my work. Also others I find inspirational and accomplished like Laura Mvula, Beyonce, Serena Williams, Erykah Badu and Janelle Monae.

What are the morals you run your brand by?

The morals that I run my brand by are integrity in dealing with others and sourcing materials ethically as much as possible or available.

Do you have a mentor?

I don’t have a mentor but I try to learn from others as much as possible through other means like lectures or books and meeting people for coffee. I read a great book by Alex Monroe and I also met him once.

What apps keep you sane?

I love the Youtube app- I can learn and listen to anything from there. I use the podcast app and habits app.

If you could only wear one piece from your collection, what would it be and why?

I love all my pieces of jewellery (they're all my babies), but if I had to choose one. I would choose the Bimbika and Selena’s Dance gold hoops. It’s an elegant loud piece which changes every outfit.

What’s the biggest style mistake you’ve ever made?

One of the biggest style mistakes is to buy clothes just because they’re on sale and not to check if they fit well with my collection; they just clog up my wardrobe and I never wear them.

Is there another designer whose work you admire?

Alex Monroe.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

The best advice I received is to trust myself and never give up.

What drew you to Wolf & Badger?

The most important thing that drew me to Wolf & Badger was that I really liked the other designers in the store. There is just so much I would buy in here so I knew it chimed with me creatively.

Where do you see the brand in 5 years?

In five years time I see the brand getting more of an international presence in Europe. I’m talking to stockists in Stockholm and Oslo and will be stocked there this year if I decide to go ahead with it.