Isabel Herrero from ISA NOY: A Conversation
1. Tell us about the collection you just launched - the Rocks. What inspired you in the design process?
My life in the Caribbean is a constant source of inspiration in my design process every single day. It guided me to what is now the first collection called Rocks, a collection inspired by those special rocks we find while walking carefree in the sand. Growing up in Puerto Rico and traveling the Caribbean from a very young age gave way to that free spirited essence that I like to bring to my designs. I feel most inspired when I’m barefoot at the beach, exploring the islands, looking for rocks and beach treasures, feeling at ease with myself. I want my pieces to speak of that tropical sense of “sukha” - the state of bliss, happiness, pleasures & ease that the Caribbean’s environment gives. It’s this sense that gives way to all of my inspirations for the brand.
2. What made you want to start ISA NOY? What made you want to focus on jewelry?
My background is architecture and ISA NOY is that space that I was able to construct as a result of this beautiful practice. I had always designed and made jewelry as a hobby but it wasn’t until two years ago that I decided to integrate my love for design and my passion for jewelry. Making jewelry has allowed me to express myself in a deeper and more profound way. It has opened the doors for me to create a platform to talk honestly about jewelry, its meaning, awareness of materials and so many other great things.
Loving and learning about fine jewelry has also been something my mother taught me since a very young age and it’s something I feel I inherited from her. This special connection that we share for jewelry inspired me to name the brand after her maiden name, NOY.
3. Where do you source your materials to create your pieces?
We only work with rich, pure, high quality materials and we take a lot of pride in this. The materials are always a mixture between new and collected, and we believe in pieces that are handmade to order from start to finish. We are committed to make pieces that will last a lifetime, that will be passed on through generations, that carry and will carry history.
Our next collection will feature our Rocks in pure 22k, 18k and 14k yellow and pink gold made by me at the atelier. Some of the designs will have special gold mixtures derived from vintage gold that I have been acquiring throughout the years.
4. Which pieces in the Rocks collection stands out to you the most?
Our Single Rock Necklace is by far the piece in the collection that stands out the most to me, it’s the face of our Mantra, “live in your jewelry”. The piece is so easy to wear in a daily basis, I never want to take mine off, it’s the the perfect necklace for a relaxing day to a special evening out. It’s all about starting with one Single Rock Necklace (you choose your rock size) and keep layering to create a beautiful campaign look. The thing I like most about the Rocks is that no matter what piece from the collection you’re wearing, yours will always be different, and always have its own story. Life is too short to be wearing the same thing that everyone else is wearing!
5. Does your personal style differ to what we see in the Rocks?
I believe the Rocks carry a lot of my design aesthetics, I like designs that are simple, rich in meaning and strong in substance. I like my style to be relaxed, minimal & classic, with a tropical twist as I like to show on our website’s IN world. I cherish those pieces that will last forever as wardrobe staples. Our collection Rocks fits in this world of individuality, with clean aesthetics.
One thing that I have enjoyed the most since opening the brand, has been to see how our ISA NOY Babes style their pieces with their everyday looks. These girls are putting their own edge to their Rocks and this is fascinating for me to see.
Shop ISA NOY's Rocks Collection at www.isanoy.com
Images via ISA NOY