Hi Robin, thank you so much for taking some time from your busy schedule to answer some of my questions. From you official website, I know that you are the third-generation designer in your family. So how did your family influence you to become a designer and why do you choose jewelry design?
I grew up in Paris and remember watching my grandfather in his office sketching, always with a blue ink pen, and my father in constant motion in his creative process. At an early age that energy pulled me in. I think what influenced me most was the idea of creating a product out my imagination, bringing ideas to life. In my late teens I designed a new bold ring with a large square top for my Grand Mother’s old diamond solitaire on a piece of paper that she saved without my knowledge. She commissioned her jeweler to produce it and spent years telling everybody that it was my design. Since 1993 this became a signature collection, the Square.
Now I have a better understanding why many of your pieces have the square shape! Where do you usually get your inspiration for your design? Does your Parisian background influence your design?
I get inspiration from everything, a pebble, a piece of wood; I love Vintage cars and motorcycles, and take design cues from some of these details. I have a miniature toy car collection from my childhood displayed in my design studio and it’s a great source of inspiration. I love craftsmanship from the past, when people took pride and time to do things right, with quality and attention to details, a time when artisans gave pieces a distinct character. The city of Paris was designed as a vitrine to the world of fine designs. Everywhere you find harmonious lines, perfect balance, proportion and scale. I spent countless weekends in flea markets, galleries, museums and to this day feel like a student, constantly looking and learning. I see something new all the time, at each visit. The best designs, the purest, the strongest are the one that defy the test of time.
You are right, people in the past were willing to take time and do things right. I think this is an attitude more designers should have in the present days. Speaking of your designs, in your own words, what kind of adjectives will be best to describe your works? Why?
What describes my works best would be to say it is classic in inspiration, with a contemporary feel and execution. The pieces I create are not over the top, they are not shocking, not ‘statement pieces”, they are meant to be worn a lot, to become part of you, to say something discreet and elegant about yourself. I never get tired of hearing customers at stores telling me “I never take it off”.
Classic is the word I have when I look at your collections. They are very timeless but at the same time, very classy. At this momen, you are only selling your products at stores in the United States. Are you planning to expand your business in the future? Will Canada be one of the locations you consider to sell your products?
We are well and tightly distributed in the US, and have actually sold in Canada and overseas for years but in a very limited scope. This is an area we see future growth for the brand, a Paris designer with a made in New York label! Our men’s line has been selling briskly in Canada at select Harry Rosen’s stores and we will do more business outside the US; at this very moment we are shipping our first order to Russia this month.
Now I will have to go to Harry Rosen and see if I can find your collection. While browsing your website, I have noticed you have done a few collaborations with Disney. How did that happen?
The collaboration with Walt Disney Signature started in the summer, and has been very productive. They approached me with the initial intention to create a collection of “Mickey Mouse through the years” sterling silver cufflinks, then it grew to a line around the movie Fantasia, and then expanding to add the other four classic Disney characters. I love the Pluto, Donald and Goofy cufflinks. The latest collaboration was around the movie TRON Legacy. This is where I let loose! I love motorcycles and I love the aesthetics of the movie - the “Lightcycle” cufflinks in black rhodium finish and the long “Icon” earrings are my two favorite pieces of the collection. Jeff Bridges wore the cufflinks at the Premiere.
I don't know if you know that, but I am deeply in love with your TRON Legacy collection. That pair of "Lightcycle" cufflinks is on my wish list already! Last but not least, if you could work on another project with Disney, what movie would you love to work on? Why?
Not sure, I will let the red carpet unfold as I walk! Everything so far as been such a creative spontaneity that I want to keep it that way. When you start to over plan and anticipate too much you loose key ingredients: freshness and fun.
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Now it is time for our trivia section to know the artist more on a personal level.Gold or Silver?
Silver
Paris or New York?
Both
Abstract or Pop Art?
Abstract
Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck?
Donald
Circles of Squares?
Squares
Tie or Bow Tie?
Tie
Plaid or Stripes?
Stripes
Spring or Autumn?
Autumn
Coffee or Tea?
Cappuccino
Dark or White Chocolate?
Dark
Now I am sure you will have more knowledge about the brand Rotenier. Once again, thank you so much to Robin for answering my questions and I am excited to see what he will have in store for us in the near future! If you want to see more of his works, please visit his official website. All photos are courtesy of Robin Rotenier.
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