TESSA PACKARD
Founder and Creative Director of London-based jewellery label Tessa Packard shares inspirations for her eclectic collection’s brand of fairy-tale storytelling, and her favourite place in the world
Most treasured collection…
My favourite collection is ‘Lost and Found.’ which perfectly encapsulates the four pillars that make up our brand’s unique DNA: Fairy tales, The Victorian Curiosity Cabinet, Neverland, and Juxtaposition. Inspired by the art of Joseph Cornell and by my love of collecting things, ‘Lost and Found’ is both eclectic and quirky, playful and fun, and that for me is what fine jewellery should always be.
Latest collection...
‘Emperor’s New Clothes’ is a collection that explores the idea of illusion and irony through the use of colourful enamelling and giant gemstone shapes. It’s inspired by the eponymous Hans Christian Anderson fairy-tale, in which what you see isn’t necessarily what you get! As a jeweller who has always preferred to concentrate on unique design rather than carat weight, this collection was a rather fun exercise exploring how best to merge the two.
Travels inspire me…
Travelling helps me to rest, recuperate and breathe––to step back from my work and have some time to myself. I believe deeply in the importance of dislocation and sleep, and when I have the chance to relax I find that I become infinitely more inspired and productive.
Favourite city…
Aside from London, it would probably be Florence. Not only is this city insanely beautiful, but it also has a sense of community that no longer really exists in many areas of London. The weather is also a little more reliably hot in the summer in Italy, and eating al-fresco for me is one of life’s great luxuries.
My recommendations…
I would recommend: a visit to the rooftop bar of the Boundary Hotel in Shoreditch; an alfresco lunch at Poule au Pot in Pimlico; dinner at 5 Hertford Street members’ club in Mayfair; an afternoon at the Natural History Museum, especially when the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is on show; a long walk along the Thames from Syon House to Chelsea – it will take about 4 hours but the vistas are beautiful.
My travel must-haves…
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour lip balm, adaptor plugs, hair ties.
Weekend retreat…
I go home to Scotland. It is wild, remote and untamed, and the perfect place to either catch up on sleep or design a new collection. There is no phone signal, the internet doesn’t always work, it usually rains consistently, but it is my favourite place in the world.
Favourite hotels…
The Palazzo Guardagni in Florence for its incredible terrace, which overlooks the whole of Santo Spirito and beyond; Hacienda San Rafael near Seville for its food and understanding of paired-back luxury; Txai Resort in Bahia, Brazil, for its windswept beach and beautifully designed guest villas; Chiva Som for its impeccable medicinal spa; and the Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana – my idea of complete heaven.
Find my collection at…
On display in our new Chelsea showroom in London (15a Ives Street, London SW3 2ND) and online at www.tessapackard.com. Our byappointment showroom is decorated in the style of a Victorian gentleman’s study, complete with the imagined objects and objet d’art collected on a past Grand Tour.
Trends for 2018…
Nature; juxtaposition and the mismatching; unusual materials.
My work & holiday look…
Polished with an edge for work, ideally no makeup for holiday.
My recommendation for picking up the right jewellery…
Forget about trends and only buy what you really love.
Tessa Packard London is the eponymous fine jewellery label by London-based founder launched in 2013., the label is recognised for designing eclectic bi-annual collections and unique bespoke jewellery that celebrate both individuality and storytelling.