Max & Chloe: Who is/are the founders of the David Aubrey jewelry collection?
DavidAubrey: Jennifer Arago (myself) and David Shechter. David Shechter left the company in 2008.
M&C: What is the inspiration behind the David Aubrey name?
DA: The company was named after David (one of the founders) and Aubrey, who is my sister. We felt “David Aubrey” had a nice ring to it.
M&C: You mentioned that you were first captivated by the jewelry trade while attending nursing school at night and working as a designers apprentice during the day. What aspect of fashion design interested you before you realized your love for jewelry?
DA: I’ve always loved sewing so much that in high school I spent many weekends making dresses for myself and my friends. I was never professionally trained but I grew up watching my grandmother make anything from curtains, to clothes, to quilts. She inspired and brought out the creativity in me. Trash and Vaudeville, a fashion house that put the Ramones in those skintight black jeans, had a factory in Jersey City where I grew up. I would go after high school to ask for their good scraps and I would make tops, skirts, dresses and hair accessories out of them. I even made my junior prom dress from those scraps! It wasn’t very well made but I had fun wearing it.
M&C: What are some outlets that you use to find inspiration for your jewelry creations?
DA: I find inspiration everywhere - from vintage stores, travel books, nature, even architecture. There are times when the inspiration simply comes from one component, from either the texture, the shape, or the color, I then gather materials to go with that one inspirational component.
M&C: In three words, how would you describe the David Aubrey Jewelry girl?
DA: Bold, timeless, and confident.
M&C: What do you think is the one must-have item from your current jewelry collection? Why?
DA: One of my favorite pieces is the mini initial necklace. It’s small, delicate, and personalized and can be worn by itself or layered with other necklaces. I love how it’s not noticeable from afar but really stands out when seen up close.
M&C: You seem to have an affinity for using bright colors for your jewelry. How do you decide which color would look best with each specific piece?
DA: I do a lot of experimenting! One piece could take 5 hours to design and only 10 minutes to produce. I’ve sometimes spent hours on a piece and ended up editing it because the colors just didn’t work.
M&C: Which celebrity would you most like to see wear your jewelry?
DA: Meryl Streep! She represents everything timeless.
M&C: Have you ever been contacted by any designers who wish to collaborate on an item or collection?
DA: We’ve never done any collaborations, but designers like Nanette Lepore and production companies like Disney often order our jewelry to complement their latest collections or production.
M&C: Where do you hope to see your jewelry collection in five years?
DA: My designs are constantly evolving and I never know which direction I’ll be taking. It all depends on what inspires me at a given moment or that season.
M&C: What advice do you have for aspiring jewelry designers?
DA: Work as an apprentice first! That’s advice I would give anyone who wants to start their own business.