Designer Interview – Susie Morrow

Chatting with designer Susie Morrow is like talking to an old friend as her bubbly and enthusiastic personality simply shines through. Influenced by ancient cultures and mythology, each of her pieces is both carefully created and thought out.

 

Hello Susie, can you please just tell us a little bit more about yourself?

I grew up in a large Anglo Irish family in Newcastle in the north of England. I still live in Northumberland because I love the tranquility, but my job takes me all over the world on a very regular basis, so really, I’m a citizen of the world.

I was a science geek, well before it was trendy to be a nerd. I loved science; still do in
fact and so naturally ended up a scientist when I grew up – specializing in Chemistry.
I worked as a chemist in industry for a while, and then taught chemistry. In the background, I was working to build a software company with my partner, which ultimately we succeeded in doing and we’ve been working in this field for a long time now. I specialize in online identity and technology futures- looking at how human beings interact with technology online and how best to translate our real lives into digital ones.

However, throughout my life, from early childhood, I’ve always been fascinated by fashion and design, probably because my mother had her own dressmaking business and I used to help out in cutting out patterns, etc. I’ve never lost the love of fashion, fabric and accessories and still collect vintage and antique jewelry.

 

With two such different career paths, how do these combine?

I have a firm life philosophy that has always stood me well. It is to take a holistic view of the world and to understand as many aspects of it as you can. This in turn allows you to take your knowledge and understanding to enhance any other area you decide to explore. Jewelry making is an art that has strong crossover with technology and science: It is the juncture at which art meets engineering. Many pieces I design and make, have to be carefully thought through to ensure the construction creates not only an aesthetic, but also a wearable item. SO, although it might seem that the two areas are distinct, they are intrinsically linked.

Coming from such a separate, corporate world, how did you decide you wanted to design jewelry?

I am about as far away from a corporate creature as you can get! Making jewelry is just another aspect of me, another part of my world – they all make a whole and all impact on each other. My intellectual pursuits during work, give me the energy to design and make jewelry. Both are intrinsic to my being and can even be seen as symbiotic – feeding my need to create and to build.

How do your two worlds mix?

Interestingly, because the technology area I specialize in is so human centric, I find that it stimulates my desire to create jewelry. The key component of this desire is the empowerment of the individual. In online identity, the movement is to empower the individual to make their own choices and control their own digital persona. Similarly, jewels should empower the wearer.

You have the design ethos that jewelry should empower, where did this belief come from and how do you ensure this in your pieces?

Jewelry has been part of the material culture of human beings since we became human. Items for personal adornment have been identified from 100,000 years ago, the dawn of the human diaspora Out of Africa. I believe that jewelry was originally developed to protect and display; protect ourselves against bad things happening and to ward of ‘evil spirits’, display, to entice the opposite sex and to show fitness for procreation (display of resources/wealth). Today, jewelry has no less meaning and value. Unique and individual pieces, such as those promoted through Boticca, say to the world, this person knows who they are, they have the strength of character to choose individuality and to wear it with pride – people who choose such unique pieces make a statement that they are empowered and they have control over their choices in life – not just in jewelry. When I design and make a piece, this belief is hard wired into those designs. I want my jewelry to make the wearer feel fantastic, inspired, strong and powerful.

 

You have said that you are influenced by ancient cultures and mythology – can you expand on this a bit?

I’m fascinated by the cultures of pre-history. If you look at the jewelry of, for example the Anglo Saxons, it was made using the most basic of instruments, but is still incredibly finely tooled and the designs are intricate and complicated. I love the use of symbolism, such as swirls. And the use of color with precious metals is an integral part of my designs. I’ve spent a lot of time looking at the jewelry of ancient cultures in museums such as the British museum and various others around the world. I love the idea of jewelry being used by men, in battle, to adorn themselves and imbue their hearts with power and strength.

 

What would you say the hardest part of setting up your label was?

The name – I’ve had a few and have finally settled on my own name, as after all, I’m the designer/maker. I think I struggled with it because it sort of felt vain, but then a milliner friend of mine (Janine Basil) convinced me that the best name to use was my own. 

What advice do you have for other emerging designers?

Make sure it is really what you want to do, as it is hard work to establish yourself. Once you do make that decision, make sure that you have a vision and have the discipline to create a business around that vision. Take advise and be prepared to work hard.

 

What do you know now that you wish you had known then?

How to use a camera and Photoshop – I’m still struggling now, but getting better.

What has been the best part of the whole journey?

People appreciating what I do, it’s THE best buzz.

If your pieces were a celebrity who would they be?

Sienna Miller or Drew Barrymore

How would you describe your pieces in 5 words?

Quirky, Unique, Unusual, Powerful, Statement

 

What is next for you?

I’m learning to cast with metals so I can expand my skillset and make some items that I have in my head, but don’t yet have the technique under my belt to create. I plan to use this to expand my range of men’s jewelry.

Why Boticca?

Boticca have an attitude that’s fits the moment in fashion and design. The team has created a real MGT (must go to) site, which is interesting and has the coolest accessories on the planet. From a designer/maker viewpoint, it has an incredibly welcoming and supportive environment and the people I’ve dealt with have been nothing but kind and encouraging.

 

What other designers on Boticca do you admire?

Boticca designers are incredibly talented and I feel awed to be amongst them. Quite honestly it’s hard to pin down just a few. I’ve recently bought several ties from STNTN, which were incredibly well made, beautifully packaged and so rare to find in terms of design. I also love the work of Pennabilli, its perfection (a jewelers, jeweler). Nasma does some quite beautiful work and SuperDuper Hats make me drool (especially ‘Irma’).

How would you describe your own personal style?

Sometimes quirky, sometimes smart, stylish always (except when I’m working from home!).

For more by Susie Morrow click here