Sophie Filomena has many talents to her name. A designer, stylist, and illustrator, she also runs her own online store, where she sells what she describes as “statement art, for your ears and eyes,” meaning: earrings and prints.
Her colorful designs make for eye-popping accessories, but she admits that while striving toward a career in illustration, she never imagined she’d also become a jewelry designer. “I’ve always been an illustrator and have been working towards making a living from that, ever since I can remember,” she shared with Shift Magazine. “The jewelry was a spur of the moment project I decided to have a go at in the summer of last year (2017). A couple of people saw my designs on social media and asked to buy them, since then it steadily became a small business!”
According to Filomena, her bold and bespoke brand is inspired by the ’80s aesthetic as well as the Memphis Milano cultural phenomenon of Italian design, with her work aiming to empower other people. “I take inspiration from my childhood, such as ’80s music I grew up with and the geometric composition of Memphis Milano.” she relayed. “My designs have recently become more botanical, creating flower details on hoop earrings – preparing my new collection for the summer. With my drop dangles, I’m aiming to get crazier with the shapes and designs, hopefully appealing to a wider audience.”
Her pieces very much revolve around shape and color. “Usually, the color palette is the first thing I focus on and I continue from there,” she says. “Occasionally, I find making a few sketches helps record the idea down if it’s particularly intricate. But overall, I just make it up as I go along. I think the immediate rawness shows through sometimes.”
Take a look at some of her designs in the gallery below:
