Baylee Ann Zwart is passionate about creating fine jewelry options for modern women – the type of jewelry that might feel approachable for everyday wear, but special enough to invest in. Made of 18k gold and platinum, AZLEE’s pieces are crafted in Los Angeles by masters in their field.
Her pieces are a blend of modern and traditional, with personal influences that include French Art Deco as well as Zwart’s fascination with ancient civilizations. “I’ve always loved the Art Deco era of jewelry,” she shared in an interview with Flaunt.
“It was so architectural and linear with the use of such unusual shapes of stones and diamonds, and I design in a very linear way, so I have loved creating a more modern take on Deco. On the other hand, I’ve also been fascinated by ancient civilizations for as long as I can remember, so being able to create ancient-looking coins, in solid gold was always an ambition of mine, and so was combining those two worlds, Ancient and Deco, and that’s really the voice and foundation of our collection.”
Her love affair with jewelry began while in Guatemala, working for a fair-trade non-profit with local artisans. It was there, on the shores of Lake Atitlan, that she began to study the art of jewelry metalworking and was immediately enamored with the notion of being able to sculpt pieces from the ground up that could be worn every day and passed down from generation to generation.
“I also have kept distribution strategic, so that when clients come across our brand they feel like they’ve discovered it, and it won’t be something all of their friends have,” she adds. It might be that special gift you’d want to gift yourself after the holiday season is done and over with.
