Today meet Stéphane, the founder of Ciléa Bijoux! Since 1992, he is behind all the jewels you love so much. Interviewed by his daughters, Améline and Ambre, come into the intimacy of the family, and discover the very unique world of the brand. Originally from Paris, he is considered as an unclassifiable creator. Self-taught, he hides himself behind the name “Mr. Anémone”.
A&A : What was your background before creating Ciléa Bijoux?
S : I didn’t have an artistic or fashion background, but in accounting! My parents were both school teachers. I didn’t grow up with relatives interested in art nor fashion. My passion for making jewelry came to me much later, in my twenties. I really stumbled across in this area. Initially, I came out of school with a bachelor’s degree in my pocket, I was lost on my professional projects and I met Monique Védie (student of Line Vautrin) by the greatest chance. I had no training in jewelry, I learned everything on the job after all.
It took me years to learn this know-how. I can say today, my first creations are not the prettiest! But with time, perseverance and a lot of passion, I perfected my mastery of the material. Even today I regularly discover ways to improve the way we do things, and new ways of working on the material.
A&A : How did you get the idea of the brand Ciléa Bijoux?
S : One of my friends had introduced me Monique Védie. At the time, she was already very involved in the world of crafts, and wanted to retire early. She was looking for a buyer of her manufacturing equipment. This meeting was for me a revelation for the work she did, which I had never seen before. She made pins of a truly incredible originality, all from the Talosel material. A great friendship was formed between us. Monique is a phenomenal well of knowledge. I was inexperienced and ended up with equipment that I had learned the basics of, but I was quite helpless at first. It took me several years to completely master everything. At the time, I didn’t have a work space, I made my first jewelry in the small studio I occupied with my partner.
A&A : Can you explain why you called the brand “Ciléa”?
S : My wife’s name is Célia, so I just exchanged two letters of her first name, the “é” and the “I”. I am quite instinctive, when I like an idea, I don’t think very long before validating it.
A&A : Why did you choose high-fancy jewelry?
S : I was taking drawing classes at the time and I still think I had a penchant for the field of art. I paint a lot and I like the idea of having the freedom to express myself through several media. Art is obviously an integral part of my life, and I am very grateful for the fulfillment it brings me every day. Expressing oneself through jewellery is another facet of this medium of expression, joyful and playful. For example, the choice of colours is an everyday game. There are combinations of colours that are made totally by chance and that our clients like very much, and conversely, there are others that I find beautiful but that people don’t like at all!
And it’s very satisfying to think that we’re improving people’s lives a little bit on our scale. We have a lot of very enthusiastic people who thank us for the universe we create, for the happiness we bring to their loved one or to themselves. The personal and unique aspect of our creations touches a lot. This part of the job, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
A&A : What is your favorite Ciléa Bijoux piece?
S : Hmmmm, it is hard to choose! I see all the creations as decorative objects rather than jewelry as such. I really like the “Tiga & Titille” characters. We have fun creating new outfits for them, finding playful patterns, fun color combinations. Otherwise one of my favorite models and of which I am the most proud is the Anémone (Poppy). It is one of the first models that I created, and I cannot believe the enthusiasm that this flower still arouses today.
A&A : How is a new jewel created?
S : My inspirations are very broad. A pattern on a garment, a flower in the countryside, a bird at the window, a puddle. A little inspire me an idea for a new jewel! I have a real appetite for the floral universe. I’ve been accumulating a lot of books on nature, an inexhaustible source of inspiration. I also think I have a broad influence that stems from a certain form of pictorial art. Artists like Pablo Picasso, Francis Bacon, Pierre Bonnard or Chaim Soutine infuse me with an overflowing energy that more or less indirectly dictate some of my creations. I usually surround myself with music to inspire myself, it’s really important to be in a peaceful environment to create for me.
When I have an idea, I try to put it on paper as soon as possible. I have whole notebooks full of sketches. Then I try to perfect the sketch, to think about the materials to use, the volumes. Then finally, I try to turn the drawing into a jewel! I test several forms, several ways of doing things. As a habit, I first create prototypes of new jewelry for my wife so she can wear and evaluate them. Jewellery has to please her, she has a lot of taste and her appreciation is generally a good mark of success for the future collections. It’s my compass. I repeat the process several times before I get something resembling my original idea. And often, the final jewel has nothing to do with my original idea! It is very difficult to purify his creations and make them harmoniously accompany a face or a garment. With each collection this is my main goal.
A&A : Your advice for young entrepreneurs of today and tomorrow?
S : In my opinion, the main qualities to have are thoroughness, you have to be organized, rigorous and constant in your actions. The slightest careless mistake can be expensive!
Showing spontaneity is also an asset, you have to know how to listen to yourself and trust yourself. Acting quickly and when you need to can open a lot of unexpected doors for you. But beware, I insist on the “when it is necessary”! Some decisions deserve to take the time to reflect and step back. It’s up to you to assess the situation.
A&A : Three words to define Ciléa?
S : lightness, color and joy I think…. And love of course!
