THE STORY BEHIND - MIDLIFECHIC COLLECTION

To mark our 25th anniversary, we’ve worked with an amazing woman, on our first ever design collaboration. Our brief? To highlight our brand’s purpose of celebrating our connections through jewellery, resonating with shared stories, not least those of the beautiful, lustrous pearl.

So we are thrilled to launch our first ever design collaboration, the Midlifechic Collection. A design collaboration to celebrate 25 years of pioneering pearl design. And Nikki's brief? We asked her what story she would like captured in a jewellery design. This is a passion project from Nikki Garnett, style icon and creator of the Midlifechic blog, designed around her own personal mantra, BIEN DANS MA PEAU.

Who better to tell the stories of women in midlife than Nikki, writer of the award winning Midlifechic blog, with its rich and connected community.

You can read more about this project in Nikki’s blog.

DISCOVER THE COLLECTION

“Too often we focus on what we’re not. I hope that this will remind you to feel at peace with exactly who you are - because you are so much more than just good enough.”

Nikki Garnett

The Design Story - From Nikki

“Back in the spring Claudia asked me if I’d be up for designing something with her. She gave me completely free rein but I knew straightaway what I wanted to do. I wanted to create something that would act as a talisman for every woman (or man) who wore it. I wanted it to work as a daily reminder to be visible – to be confident in who you are.

I knew exactly the message I needed it to convey. It was ‘bien dans ma peau’ which, as I’m sure you know, is the French way of saying “I’m happy with myself the way I am” or literally ‘good in my skin.’ I like the thought of as many people as possible going about their day wearing this quiet statement of self-assurance quite literally next to the skin that they’re feeling good in.

When you feel good about yourself your spark ignites and all the best parts of you shine through effortlessly. You just have to give yourself a continuing quiet vote of confidence.”

The Design Story - From Claudia

“Nikki had a very clear vision of her design – it was to be a flat, tagliatelle type bangle, with a modern sculptural feel, and with a good weight to it. And the writing was to be very visible. To evolve this idea I wanted to include a necklace and chain bracelet to make a full collection.

And the shape – it is taken from this hand drawing of mine, of a sea turtle that I saw on my very first scuba dive – and I’ve made it have a lovely organic texture so it is satisfying to feel. Each sea turtle has its own unique skin. Every time I touch the pendant I think of the sea turtle swimming so freely, with no idea of being watched.”

Jewellery has a unique ability to connect us, to
people, to places to moments in time – and with the very tactile nature of this range, it has something of a touchstone about it.

I’m so excited by the early reaction to this range, with the bangles being our stand-out heroines. The meaning behind the design, urging us to re-connect with who we are definitely resonates with me, 25 years on from starting to design with pearls.

Mid-life has brought so much change to my life, and I have had to work hard to retain my sense of self - as my children have left home, and my body itself has gone through the
menopause.I wear my bangle everyday, a potent reminder, and challenge, to me, to remember who I am. Not me the wife, the mum, the friend, the daughter, the sister; and certainly not the negative voices in my head – just me; myself; Claudia.'

REFLECTING ON THE COLLABORATION

As to the inspiration behind the collection - Nikki captures its emotional core with a reminder of what it means to reclaim confidence in midlife. Her reflection brings the mantra bien dans ma peau to life - an invitation to step into your own skin with assurance and pride.

“To hell with ‘not enough’ thinking. So how do you glow from within? Unfortunately, you can’t find this kind of glow in a bottle or a pot or a packet. It’s about how you decide you’re going to feel about yourself, to not allow our ‘not enough’ feelings to subdue our spark. Every midlife woman is so much more than just enough, she’s the sum of everything she’s lived through, good and bad… all of those multi-coloured gobstopper layers. She’s absolutely magnificent – and her spark should shine as brightly as Sirius.”

For Claudia, this collaboration has been as meaningful personally as it has creatively. The shared spirit behind the designs - one rooted in optimism, connection, and honouring the stories women carry with them - we hope this will resonate with everyone who buys one of these unique designs.

“Thank you, Nikki, for sharing this with me, and, I hope, many others who will find the strength, generosity, verve and spirit of all you do within this beautiful new collection that I have adored working on. I’m off to squeeze the juice out of every day. And if it’s lemons I get today, let’s make lemonade.”

The Midlifechic Collection is a true collaboration: Nikki shaped the design vision, while her husband Mal created the bespoke monogram, custom font and turtle icon that give the collection its unique identity.

CLAUDIA

“These pieces are special because they don’t just look beautiful but each one is utterly tactile too. That’s why they work so well as a talisman to bring you self-assurance whenever you need it.”

NIKKI GARNETT

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THE STORY BEHIND - MIDLIFECHIC COLLECTION

DISCOVER THE COLLECTION

Midlifechic mantra silver disc bracelet with single pearl charm, rhodium plate

Midlifechic mantra disc bracelet with single pearl charm, 18k gold plate

Midlifechic mantra necklace with single pearl charm, gold plate

Midlifechic mantra SLIM OVAL silver bangle, with single pearl charm, rhodium plate

Midlifechic micro mantra necklace with single pearl charm, gold plate

Midlifechic mantra SLIM OVAL bangle, with single pearl charm, 18k gold plate

Midlifechic mantra necklace with single pearl charm, rhodium plate

Midlifechic micro mantra necklace with single pearl charm, rhodium plate

Midlifechic mantra ROUND bangle, with single pearl charm, 18k gold plate

Midlifechic mantra ROUND silver bangle with single pearl charm, rhodium plate