Mindy Recht, the design/creator behind the CJ Recht jewelry brand eloquently answers The Jewelry Report questions in this open and honest interview.  In fact,  her answers were so appealing that we gave her twice as much space to express herself!  Check back on Wednesday for part two of her interview. 

I love the stylish simplicity and flowing lines of your collections. How did you develop your style?

All designers have an innate sense of style that forms the foundation of their work. Good designers use that internal vision as a point of departure, a kind of native homing signal keeping the work on track. I’ve always loved clean lines and solid colors in clothing and decorative objects, which I attribute to some of my earliest influences.  I grew up in a “modern” design house, furnished with contemporary furniture (mid-to late1950’s) and Asian antiques. Perhaps it is no surprise then, that to me, both classical Chinese porcelain and Scandinavian glass epitomize elegance with their brilliant combinations of shape and color. I like to think that has influenced my aesthetic and translates into my designs. 

So you have a no-frills attitude to design?

Call me crazy, but I just don’t care for decoration for it’s own sake. I believe in shape, form, line, and color. So when I design a new piece, I strive for the right combination of those elements.

And I love metal. Very seriously, love is not too strong a word. I love metal – the fact that it can be shaped and bent with relative permanence never ceases to delight me. I’m always happy to have a hammer in one hand and a bare piece of silver or gold in the other.  I love stones too, but I love metal more, which explains why I have numerous designs that simply showcase the metal sans stones.

Where do you find inspiration?

Inspiration can be found anywhere; in the ordinary moment that reveals itself in surprising ways–in a stunning example of architecture, a feather, an antique carpet, a color that catches the eye, an incident on the subway. My work has been inspired by both Victorian and modernist jewelry – but when it is filtered though my mind, something new arrives.

What is your favorite design, and is this your best seller?

 I always design for myself first, because if I like the piece and enjoy wearing it, I think that others will too.  Otherwise – at the risk of using a cliché, I have to say that my favorite design is always the newest design I’m working on at the time. I love the excitement of creating new work, even when I feel as though I might be on the edge.

Do you find the process of experimentation frustrating or inspiring?

 Exploration is essential or design stagnates – no matter how firmly held your aesthetic.  You have to evolve and grow.  

I find experimentation incredibly inspiring so I find myself dying to try new things.  In fact, I can spend too much time experimenting.

Visit http://www.cjrecht.com/ for more information and purchasing options, and be sure to check back on Wednesday for part 2!