Trinkets with pluck
Anne-christine nadal of french jewellery brand mouchkine tells us about her over-the-top designs.
Hello! Tell us about Mouchkine and how it came to be. When I was little, I drooled in front of luxury jewellery windows, but of course, could not afford anything. So once I got home, I’d try to reproduce the designs with cardboard, glue, beads and some glitter. I had caught the virus of creating. Now, Mouchkine is the opposite of what we see everywhere in shop windows, especially in Paris: simple and uncluttered little gems, which ultimately all look alike. Mouchkine is a universe of overload, colour and imagination, while remaining elegant and feminine.
What were you doing before starting the label? Quite the opposite! I was a criminal lawyer. I think I finally realised I was too sensitive for such a trying area. So I dropped everything and returned to my first love: jewellery. Speaking of love, Mouchkine is a love story. My partner and I work together to make a brand full of convictions and values – we’re a creative pair.
How would you describe the Mouchkine style in five words? Colourful, maximalist, handmade, sophisticated, playful.
What are some of the items we can find in your collection? Until recently, Mouchkine was mainly jewellery – earrings, necklaces, brooches and bracelets – but we’re launching our first home decoration collection, still very much in the same Mouchkine universe. There will be cushion covers, wall hangings, velvet pouches, handbags and, soon, trays.
What sort of materials and techniques do you use? All the jewellery is handmade by me in France. It’s real slow design, with the philosophy of doing less but doing better. I developed my know-how with felt-based jewellery – this allows us to design large couture pieces, but keep them very light and comfortable. (There’s nothing worse than wearing earrings that are too heavy and set your ears on fire after an hour!) We love to mix very different materials such as crystal and ceramic, but also resin and plastic, and even metal.
Many of the pieces are quite playful, featuring British royals, cats and cartoon characters. Where do you tend to find inspiration?
It’s essential for us to remain curious, creative and positive, and to always dare more! We love bad taste and old-fashioned things – the difficult part is making them feel like elegant couture. We are also very nostalgic; we’re eternal children and proud of it. We grew up in the ’80s and our memories of colourful, happy fashion inspire us.
Does this kitsch, maximalist approach extend to your own home and clothes, too? A big yes! For clothes, I almost only dress in vintage pieces from the ’80s and ’90s – especially elaborate, colourful, embroidered sweaters. At home, we have a real issue with accumulation. As soon as a place is empty, we overload it. There is no more space in the cupboards and no more space in the house!
Describe your studio for us. Our workshop is located on the first floor of our home. Like our creations, it’s crazy, overloaded and often messy. Our cat Couscous is never far away, and often comes to perch on our desks to supervise the work. (She is adamant about the quality.) Large shelves brim with jars filled with pearls and rhinestones. In one corner, a pink Roman column stands with flowers on it. Childlike animal masks hang on a wall; on another, dozens of floral vintage paintings.
What do you watch or listen to while you work? 1980s power pop, like INXS, The Stranglers, a-ha, Alphaville, and so many others. When I like a track or have it in my head, I can listen to it on loop hundreds of times, for days.
Where can we see more of your work? Online at mouchkinejewelry.com or on Instagram at @mouchkine.jewelry.