Ten Minutes with Jewelry Designer Emily Miranda

It may seem like an oxymoron, but many of the otherworldly pieces by Emily Miranda Studio are  crafted using materials from the natural world that’s all around us. Consider, for example, the showstopping cuff coaxed from freshwater pearls, rhinestones, silk cord, and seashells. The truly daring can draw a crowd with the claw earrings featuring herk diamonds, pyrite, gold leaf, and alligator claws. Emily’s work also gives homage to other artistic traditions with pieces such as the leafy Matisse necklace and the origami-ish folded ring. She claims to “not get out much,” but wearing Emily Miranda jewelry is sure to get you through more than a few fashionably festive doors.

Oligoville: In five words or less, Emily Miranda Studio is. . .

Emily: A wearable, fanciful sculpture venture.

Oligoville: How would you describe your ideal customer?

Emily: Bold, discerning, intelligent, curious.

Oligoville: How’d you end up as a designer?

Emily: By way of painting, by way of sculpture, by way of cakes.

Oligoville: How/when did you launch your brand?

Emily: About a year ago, through spending way too much time working alone, superlative family and friends, and an ongoing series of fortunate accidents.

Oligoville: How do cakes fit into your design life?

Emily: For me they were the gateway drug to jewelry design.

Oligoville: Who and/or what inspires you?

Emily: Birds, animals, insects, bivalves, aberrant conchology, folded paper, line drawings.

Oligoville: What’s 24 hours like in your life?

Emily: Coffee, email, studio, studio, studio, sleep, repeat.

Oligoville: What’s in your closet? What are you wearing right now?

Emily: A lutz & patmos cashmere track suit under French plumber’s coveralls, and a suede apron with lightning bolts sewn on it. No kidding. Cashmere socks and clogs.

Oligoville: What’s in your bag right now?

Emily: I’m trying to limit everything to coat pockets at the moment.

Oligoville: Tell us about some unexpected setbacks you have faced since starting your business and what you learned.

Emily: Tons of rookie mistakes. Too many to name. I keep a quote by Winston Churchill nearby: “Success is going from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”

Oligoville: What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

Emily: To make exactly what I like and have other people like it too.

Oligoville: Tell us where you expect to see your business in the next five years.

Emily: Bigger, better, faster, stronger. I’d also be thrilled if I could pay my mortgage on time.

Oligoville: Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Emily: If someone tells you “it can’t be done,” please note that they have never tried it themselves.

Oligoville: What’s on your playlist right now?

Emily: Lots of NPR and audiobooks. When its time to rock out, The Stooges. I chill to Philip Glass.