Charm & Chain Interviews Alexis Bittar
Famous for his whimsical, eye-catching designs, Alexis Bittar is a CFDA award winner and a darling of the jewelry world. We recently caught up with the bauble-minded Bittar to get the inside scoop on the man behind the brand.
C&C: What makes the Alexis Bittar brand so successful?
AB: I strive to push the envelope of design and creativity while still understanding the need for wearability. My pieces of jewelry are recognizable because of this. In addition, unlike many fashion brands, the demographic of customers who are attracted to my brand has such a wide range of appeal—from a 20-year-old fashionista to an 85-year-old grandmother—which is a rare thing to house in one collection.
C&C: How do you balance the demands of creating seasonal designs and growing a larger enterprise at the same time?
AB: I am continuing to learn the art of time management, and I am completely kept on a schedule. That being said, when it’s time to be creative, I put aside whatever other thoughts on managing the business I may have and allow myself the ability to dream.
C&C: What brands (in fashion or in any other industry) do you admire most?
AB: Comme des Garcons, Martin Margiela, Celine and Marni, just to name a few.
C&C: To what extent does the history of costume jewelry influence your designs?
AB: A great deal- I have been obsessed with vintage jewelry since I was a little kid- to this day I am consistently exploring vintage and antique jewelry. Just to give you a sense of how much I love it, on my birthday , my favorite thing to do is to go antiquing. I am in awe of the craftsmanship, the art and thought that went into each piece of jewelry that was produced from 1850- 1930.
C&C: To what extent do jewelry trends follow and deviate from seasonal fashion trends? Does the runway factor into your creative process?
AB: In some ways jewelry trends are in sync with ready to wear. I design on the same schedule, so I’m not able to react to what’s coming down the runway. Instead I trust myself that I am in sync with the ready-to0wear collections. It’s interesting because I find that the jewelry lover generally does not follow the ready to wear trends but instead really trusts her own passion and her own eye for what she chooses..
C&C: Alexis Bittar has a significant following comprised of women of disparate ages. Why do you think that is? Do you have a target demographic in mind as you design jewelry?
AB: I don’t have a target client when I am designing- what I do try to do is design pieces that will be attractive to multiple demographics.
C&C: Recent reports tell us that you plan to add new product lines under the Alexis Bittar brand. Why are you growing into these new areas and why are you making this exciting move now?
AB: It’s the natural succession of the brand to extend into other outlets, and as an artist it’s exciting to have the ability to work in other mediums.
C&C: How would you recommend a woman think about the role of jewelry as a part of her daily expression of personal style?
AB: Here’s my most important advice for any woman: You need to feel comfortable in whatever you’re wearing. You really want to deliberately choose the jewelry that you put on…you don’t want to feel like it’s wearing you. Basically you need to have a sense of comfort, but you should always try to push your limits a little. Accessories are about having fun so you should always experiment!
To read more about Alexis and shop his collection, click here»
Sister-in-laws Gauri and Radhika Tandon launched 
