hink back to when you were a child and you discovered that a piece of rope and some beads could turn into jewelry. You probably mass-produced your designs, giving them to family and friends who very politely wore them, regardless of what they looked like. Then you probably grew a little older, realized you weren't all that artistic, and abandoned your sad attempts at crafting a jewelry empire, right? For most of us, this story rings true. For designer Christie Martin, however, things worked out differently.
After creating macramé chokers and earrings and giving them as gifts, Martin realized that jewelry-making was something that she rather enjoyed. What started as a hobby led her to enroll as a metalsmith student at San Francisco State University, not far from her San Jose, California roots. Her work was good; so good that it appeared in galleries, museums and even the White House, and Martin received a thank-you letter from Hillary Clinton herself. Not too shabby for a student.
Martin interned and worked for Vass Ludacer in New York City following graduation, but missed her home and decided to return to California and start her own jewelry business. Her love of the West Coast can certainly be seen in her work, and she admits that it does provide some inspiration. "I guess my designs are a little casual, never bulky or overbearing, and I guess the same can be said for California lifestyle," she says. "I like pieces of jewelry that can be worn everyday, alone or layered, where you don't have to think too much about it, just put it on with anything and go... to the beach, rollerskating, nightclubbing or shopping!"
Geography wasn't Martin's only influence. A woman who commanded the attention of everyone in the room during the 1970s also impacted the style of the young designer. "Farrah Fawcett, of course!" says Martin enthusiastically. "I grew up in the seventies and understood at an early age just what sexy was!" She also looks to European magazines for inspiration, imagining what would best accessorize what the fashion designers are using. On a simpler level, her workspace itself inspires creativity, as she reveals "I tend to have a messy workspace and sometimes a bead will roll into another bead and low and behold, magic has happened!"
Martin designs her pieces to "make a woman feel sexy and strong", and definitely unique. For her Spring 2005 collection she created a self-described "Grandma gone bad" look with vintage baubles, large charm bracelets and long necklaces with odd assortments of charms at the ends. She also created a collection featuring a silver and swarovski crystal chain with pearls and tusks. Every piece she creates is designed to make women feel confident and be noticed, because, as she exclaims, "every woman deserves that!" Ultimately, she injects her personality into her work, making the designs "fun, sexy, in control, flirtatious and a little dangerous," she says.
It seems Hollywood elite enjoy her personality traits too, as Martin's pieces can be spotted on the biggest stars. Seen on the likes of Cameron Diaz, Fergie, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Beyonce, Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton to name a few, Martin couldn't be more pleased. She admits that the ultimate satisfaction comes from seeing her friends or stylists and editors wearing her designs, as "they have the best taste in my book and it's always flattering when they love your work!" she explains.
Named GenArts "Fresh Face in Fashion" for 2004, Martin seems poised to become a "must-have" designer in the not-so-distant future. Grab any major magazine like InStyle, Elle, Rolling Stone or Cosmopolitan and you'll spot her line on the cover or inside the pages. If you're globetrotting, you'll find her collections in the US, Canada, UK, France, Japan, Lebanon, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Despite her success, Martin still remains thankful and appreciates the struggle that she endured to land where she is today. Her advice for younger designers just starting out? "Don't give up!" she emphasizes. "The road is never easy, but if you truly love what you do, then don't listen to anyone else... just got for it and keep going even when it seems everything is against you."
Thanks to her encouraging words, perhaps some of us will be digging out that macramé again and giving it another try.
We sat down with jewelry designer Christie Martin to talk about her road to success, who she loves seeing in her designs and her surprising childhood style icon.
HILARY Magazine: Where do you get your inspiration?
Christie Martin: My inspiration comes from European magazines. I look to the fashion designers and imagine what would best accessorize the necklines, fabrics and colors they are using. I also get inspiration from materials that I'm attracted to...sometimes my best ideas come from the color or cut of a stone.
HILARY Magazine: Did you have any style icons when you were growing up?
Christie Martin: Farrah Fawcett of course! I grew up in the seventies and understood at an early age just what sexy was!
HILARY Magazine: What advice could you offer to young designers just starting out?
Christie Martin: DON'T GIVE UP. The road is never easy, but if you truly love what you do, then don't listen to anyone else...just go for it and keep going even when it seems everything is against you.
HILARY Magazine: How does your personality impact your designs?
Christie Martin: I design jewelry to make a woman feel sexy, and strong. Sometimes the perfect piece of jewelry can ignite those feelings. My old english choker is my personal favorite piece and that's how it makes me feel when I wear it...it gets noticed and every woman deserves that! So, yes, my personality does come out in my work; fun, sexy, in control, flirtacious and a little dangerous!
HILARY Magazine: How do you think growing up on the West Coast has influenced your style?
Christie Martin: I've never really thought about that before...I guess my designs are a little casual, never bulky or overbearing, and I guess the same can be said for California lifestyle. I like pieces of jewelry that can be worn everyday, alone or layered (I'm a big fan of layering), where you don't have to think too much about it, just put it on with anything and go...to the beach, rollerskating, nightclubing or shopping!
HILARY Magazine: Who would you like to see wearing your designs?
Christie Martin: I've seen so many celebs wearing my jewelry...Cameron Diaz, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Paris Hilton. I feel best when my friends are wearing it, or stylists, or editors...because they have the best taste in my book and it's always flattering when they love your work!
HILARY Magazine: Even though you enjoy flying solo, is there a designer you'd love to team up
with for a collection?
Christie Martin: Another jewlery designer, or fashion designer...I can think of a few in both catagories. Off the top of my head...I'd love to do a collection for Roberto Cavalli, and I'd love to collaborate with Neil Lane because I'm just staring to get into diamonds!
Check Christie Martin out online at www.ChristieMartin.com
Think back to when you were a child and you discovered that a piece of rope and some beads could turn into jewelry. You probably mass-produced your designs, giving them to family and friends who very politely wore them, regardless of what they looked like. Then you probably grew a little older, realized you weren't all that artistic, and abandoned your sad attempts at crafting a jewelry empire, right? For most of us, this story rings true. For designer Christie Martin, however, things worked out differently.
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