The home page of fine jewelry, FOPE Its pieces are known for their elegance and innovative Italian flair. Expect a coming together of diamonds and fine gemstones, and plenty of chains — cue FOPE’s original flexible 18-carat gold mesh chains — for a classic, yet contemporary appeal. And it’s an aesthetic that’s loved by the fashion glitterati and A-listers alike, from Rihanna and Katy Perry to Miley Cyrus and Kate Beckinsale all choosing FOPE for major red carpet events.
Claudia Piaserico, a Vicenza native who started her career as an attorney before pursuing her passion for fashion design: fine jewelry. Throughout her designing career, Claudia has received a whole host of awards and accolades, from an International Lifetime Achievement Award by the Women’s Jewelry Association to the Italian Fondazione Marisa Bellisario prize, supported by the President of the Italian Republic.
If that doesn’t keep her busy enough, she’s also been recognized by the academic world for her achievements, lecturing at the University of Padua and the Artistic School of Vicenza. She has held a number of institutional positions in the world of goldsmithing, including Vicenza Confindustria Gold and Silversmiths, National Vice President and the Italian Jewellers AssociationVice President and Secretary of Confindustria Vicenza. Claudia is a member of the Museo del Gioiello de Vicenza’s board and the President of Confindustria Federorafi. This Italian association represents over 1500 Italian goldsmithing businesses. That’s no mean feat, especially whilst developing new designs and concepts to expand the FOPE markets.
Claudia takes time from her busy schedule to speak about her passion for jewellery, her career so far, and how this beloved brand has evolved.
How did you make the transition from law to jewelry?
My family in Italy owned a jewelery company, so I was surrounded by jewelry. My father had always wanted to me study law and be a judge. But after becoming a lawyer, I realized that my heart wasn’t in it. I designed jewelry for my own enjoyment and not to sell. One of my designs was a starfish, octopus, and dolphin brooch, with a lot colored stones, enamel, and other materials. A buyer from abroad fell in love with my designs and requested to buy them. My mother gave me a chance to work in the family business after they placed a large order. That’s when my jewellery career began and I have never looked back.
Have you always loved jewelry?
I always loved jewelry from when I was a small girl and I loved to play dress-up with my Nonna’s necklaces and bracelets, pretending to be a princess. I love to wear jewelry, especially necklaces and bracelets. Art Deco I am a fan of 1920s designs and all jewelry. Every design tells a unique story and it’s then up to us to lend our interpretation to that design when we wear jewelry in our style.
How did you develop your design talents?
Traveling is important to keep my mind open and helps me to understand how the markets and consumers evolve, and what kind of new trends or needs we will face. I live in one of the three most important Italian gold districts (Vicenza) and this helps me a lot in understanding new technologies and new working techniques, which is very important when designing contemporary jewels.
Tell us more about FOPE’s heritage.
FOPE is one of the most important Italian jewelry brands. The company was founded in 1929 and it is famous around the world because of its continuous innovation. It is still a family business, even though it has been listed on the Milan stock exchange since 2006, which means that the brand has kept its family values and heritage. And it is very Italian! FOPE perfectly represents ‘Made in Italy’ because it masterfully blends heritage with innovation.
What are your responsibilities at FOPE?
I am FOPE’s Creative Director. I’m the FOPE Creative Director. This means that, in addition to researching trends and ways to improve quality, I also look at how we can make our jewelry more distinctive, while still maintaining our identity. We are looking to design jewelry that transcends culture, gender and age. FOPE jewelry can be worn by both men and woman, younger generations as well older, with designs that are adaptable to all types of cultural and fashion styles. This work is not done on my own – I also rely on my young team of designers, and I’m very proud of them.
How has the brand evolved?
FOPE looks forward to the future constantly, and that sets us apart. We heavily invest in R&D activities to assure innovation, to produce the highest quality 18ct gold jewelry, and to manufacture sustainably. While FOPE’s ground-breaking Flex’it technology was pioneered in 2007 to create flexible gold mesh chains, made entirely from 18ct gold, since then, FOPE has not stood still but has developed different types of flexible gold mesh designs on which our collections are based. This requires the development of bespoke technology, using robotics, to produce a chain mesh. A new collection based on the idea of a new style of flexible gold mesh can take two years to come to fruition – from the initial idea to creating the technology to make it and then designing a collection around it.
Our designs are contemporary and while they constantly evolve with each new collection, they all fit perfectly with an everyday ‘quiet luxury’ experience. Our Flex’it system, which is unique in the world and patented to FOPE, makes our jewelry super comfortable to wear and very versatile. FOPE’s Flex’it bracelets can be worn all day, every day, and feel like a second skin on the wrist because they are so smooth and comfortable. Our Flex’it gold rings can stretch around different fingers, so you can choose which finger to place them on depending on your mood or style, or they can be stacked together or with other rings too. And our Flex’it gold necklaces can be worn as comfortable chokers or joined together using our innovative clasp designs, to create long sautoirs. Finally, we have even extended the Flex’it technology to earrings, creating flexible gold hoops and drop earrings that can be worn in different ways.
What can you tell me about the new ideas and designs on the horizon that I should be aware of?
One concept is very, very secret. It will be incredible when we launch it! I can’t tell you anything about this, but it will be gorgeous! I’m telling you! It will be very different, but with a deep message.
What are your favorite or standout FOPE pieces?
Bubble rings! Especially because it was my very first design for FOPE and I’m fond of them! They are something of a departure for FOPE because they are a playful celebration of colored stones and diamonds, all set within an 18ct gold band based on FOPE’s classic Novecento mesh chain.
What has been the highlight of your career to date?
So many! In 2011, I was awarded the national prize “Fondazione Marisa Belisario”, supported by the President of the Italian Republic for “New talents in Made In Italy design”. In 2013, I was awarded by the master Gianmaria Buccellati with the International Lifetime Achievement Award from the WJA (The Women’s Jewellery Association). In Los Angeles in 2009 and 2010 I dressed many celebrities, including Rihanna. Katy Perry. Miley Cyrus. Kate Beckinsale. In 2021, I will be honored to serve as the President of the Italian Jewellery Federation. I will represent the interests of Italian jewellery manufacturing. This is a very important role that I take very serious.