Meet The Makers: Sanda Vidmar

»I believe the most precious jewellery is the one that starts new conversations and conveys meaning to you personally,« explains Sanda Vidmar, a Slovenian jewellery designer and maker behind her one-woman-business.

It is a statement reflected in her work. Sanda’s creations are wearable works of art that tell stories about nature and the cycle of life. The pull toward them is instinctive. They feel deeply personal yet have a timeless character that is reinforced by the high-quality craftsmanship.

In our recent conversation we talked to Sanda about her creative process, her personal relationship with the jewellery, and what to look for when purchasing pieces you plan to love forever.

Please share with us a bit about your background. What drew you to jewellery design & how did you learn your craft?

Jewellery and the process of creating it always attracted me; even in my early school days, I remember testing out more affordable materials and creating pieces for my friends. However, my path to jewellery design and having my own brand wasn’t straightforward. I guess I did not have enough courage and support at the beginning to start something on my own, so I strayed into the waters of sales and marketing. Later on, my karma found me again, and I made a decision to give it a shot and start doing what I love full-time in 2020. My first real experience with jewelry making was a class hosted by Slovenian jewelry designer Olga Košica, after that, I was mentored by jewelry designer Martina Obid Mlakar for a few years. These were my most valuable experiences, but I am still learning every day. The most memorable lessons seem to be the mistakes I make along the way.

How would you define your particular style or approach to design? What is unique about Sanda Vidmar pieces?

I do not restrict or describe my design as geometrical or organic; I like to explore both design styles and strive to create pieces with a hidden meaning, which becomes apparent once you read their stories and connect with the piece. Still, my style is minimalist with interest found in details or in the way a piece can be worn.
Every piece of jewellery I design conveys a personal meaning and hopefully inspires you to trust and believe in your own voice, have the courage to follow your instincts, and most of all, accept and love who you are becoming.

What aspect of creating the pieces fascinates you the most – conceptualization, actual creation, or the end result?

It is different for each piece, but I guess the final stage and the end result would win this question. No matter which approach I choose to create a piece, it always goes through similar stages, and each stage has positive and negative sides. Conceptualization and design are amusing and creative, and it is where I feel most connected, but I sometimes rush them and just move on to the actual work. This takes me to new places sometimes, and other times it completely ruins the initial euphoria. The stage just before final cleaning and filling, especially after casting if I use it, is the hardest stage for me not to give up on completely since everything usually looks a mess. Continuing and persisting to the final stage reveals everything – most of the time being patient pays off.

Can you tell us a bit about a typical day in your studio? Do you have any daily rituals?

The only routine I have is my morning black coffee. Since I am a mother of two, there is also a routine connected to taking them to school in the morning. After that, my working day starts. I try to organize my time as much as possible and split my work between my workbench and the computer.
What I cannot live without in my studio are definitely my many tools. I always buy new, and I could buy a million more. Better tools make my work more pleasant. Music is a huge part of my working routine; it helps me get started sometimes and continue even when work is routine or continuous. I have a few playlists, and I am capable of listening each one over and over again. There are songs that inspire me and make me sing along, as well as playlists I use more as a working background when I need to think over a solution. My studio is also full of my children’s drawings, they are now into rainbows and hearts, so I am surrounded by positivity. Oh, and I also enjoy having green plants in the studio. Since it is relatively small, I only have one or two, but they always make me feel better.

What is your personal relationship with the jewellery? Do you also buy pieces from other makers?

I always change up my jewelry and never wear the same pieces constantly. I also like to test new ideas and new forms, so sometimes you’ll see me wearing half-made items or unfinished shapes. But to me, that is part of the process, as I always try to perfect my ideas as much as possible, and I feel like I am my own best critic.
I admire many jewellery designers around the world, but I tend to wear my own pieces, mostly because they have an additional meaning for me. The fact that I am able to create something for myself means a lot to me, and firstly, I design for myself. I would also wear every design I make. They need to be approved by me before I send them to the customer.

Please share your tips: what should we pay attention to when buying jewellery? What are the things to look out for?

The first is the meaning. I truly believe the most valuable jewelry is the one that starts new conversations and conveys meaning to you. It can be anything from something emotional to something humorous, or maybe just a memory of a place or person.
Next is quality. Not so much the carats and value, but the way a piece is made. There is an advantage and a long-lasting quality to a handmade piece, where each is worked on by an actual pair of hands, inspecting every detail.

If you could choose one favourite item from your recent collection which one would it be & why?

I would choose earrings called Connected Hearts. They are a perfect addition to any jewellery collection, if you ask me. They instantly draw attention with the form and length, but still retain that minimalistic look and feel. I also love how you can wear them long, tucked behind your earlobe, or shortened in half.

What are you working on at the moment?

I am working on a new golden collection, learning new skills when it comes to stone setting, working on the new cuff earrings collection, applying for a new studio space, preparing for my first fair exhibition abroad, and the list never ends.

Any advice for women starting their own brand/business?

Be brave, be fearless in your vision, and don’t compare yourself to anyone. The trick is to find your own way, and all the hustle is necessary for you to get where you need to be. It is great and probably easier if you start your business with financial investment and knowledge, but there are other ways too. I strongly encourage anyone to follow their vision and a dream that seems to have been with them for a long time. Persistent dreams like this are probably something worth exploring when it comes to our happiness.

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