Charlotte Chesnais, jewelry designer: “What comes out are only products of which I am very proud and which I wear”
“I am the opposite of a hypochondriac. Unlike some of my friends who have been paralyzed for a year, I'm not afraid of the virus, it helps a lot. And then, deep down, I'm a real optimist. “During this year of pandemic, Charlotte Chesnais has not been idle: she has created a mini collection of fine jewelry, another with freshwater pearls – “my diamond dealer made me meet the Pope of the pearl, I don't 'couldn't resist' – and a series of enamel pieces, introducing color into its offering.
New turned wood packaging was manufactured in Normandy and the Bay of Somme. And then, on November 30, 2020, in the first days of the second deconfinement – coincidence of the calendar and a happy omen – she opened her first store, rue d'Alger, in the 1st arrondissement of Paris.
Her customers were waiting for her: even if her jewelry can be purchased online, the graphic pieces, which look unconventional, need to be tried on to fully reveal themselves. “Since the opening, the point of sale has been doing well, we are happy. And then, we say to ourselves that when it will resume – because it will resume! – we will benefit from a greater passage. Today, few people enter by chance. In general, they already know the brand. Charlotte Chesnais entrusted the design of the place to Anne Holtrop.
The Dutch architect installed a large transparent table in recycled acrylic topped with a matching monolith fixed to the ceiling, which gives the impression of being in an aquarium. “The brief was clear: anything but a boudoir with a nice carpet. I wanted an attractive but strange side, and especially not a pretty Parisian boutique, which could have been expected from me, I am aware of the boxes that I tick. »
Swirls, circles, spirals
The designer is more often in her shop than in her offices, located 500 meters away, rue de Valois. “I play the saleswoman, I love it. During the first month of opening, I was there almost every day. And it's funny because, with the masks, people don't always know it's me. Every evening, her store manager sends her the list of what has been sold, specifying for what occasions. “Receiving these little anecdotes is one of my favorite moments of the day. In absolute terms, it's useless to me, but I like this feeling of closeness with my customers. The jewel allows you to share quite intimate moments with people. »
You have 72.24% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.
- Prev
- Next
