The corridor just outside COUTURE’s primary ballroom, Cristal, is not merely a location, it’s a moment. It’s an opportunity for discovery, for mentorship, for friendship and for community building. It’s the place of many a meet-cutes, between designer and editor, artist and retailer, and among designers.

A three year opportunity, each of our DA brands starts off towards the end of the hall, moving up the aisle throughout their tenure. After that, the majority of these designers have “graduated” into salons or villas, continuing to build upon the strong foundation they established during their time in Design Atelier. This year, we are pleased to welcome a breathtaking 13 new brands to DA, each of them boasting unique perspectives and exceptionally crafted collections.

In order to get a better understanding of why each of these designers made the choice to exhibit at COUTURE, and more fully grasp their unique point of view and how they fuel their creativity, we asked them for their perspectives.

12^th House:

COUTURE: How do you fuel your creativity?

Kelly Lannen:

I come from a classical fine art background and worked as a professional sculptor before coming to fine jewelry. What attracted me to jewelry specifically was the intimacy of scale. There is a powerful shift between a sculpture that exists at a distance and an object that someone is meant to hold.

That intimacy is what makes jewelry such a compelling medium for me to work in. I think about how a piece is held and turned in the hand. I think about when it is worn, how it reveals itself from one angle to the next. And I love the chance to reward the person who looks closely.

C: What inspires you the most?

KL: I’m inspired by the chance to create jewelry that leaves room for projection. The design has its own point of view, but the wearer can enter it. It doesn’t dictate one fixed idea.

As a very visual person, I’m drawn to the symbolic language of spiritualist painting and to objects that strike a chord through symbolism or use of color. That chord is the point of entry. It is where the object becomes personal.

This is what led me to create the Pendulum Vessels. I always want to create something beautiful in its own right, but crafting an object with its own symbolic charge was the deeper draw. The fact that each Vessel is a sculptural locket, able to hold something personal inside, is what makes them a reliquary of intention.

AG Mehta:

COUTURE: Who are you most excited to meet during your COUTURE debut?

Raja Mehta: As a first time debutant, I’m excited to meet people who I’ve only seen in pictures.  

C: How do you fuel your creativity?

RM: I fuel my creativity through a blend of intuition and curiosity, drawing inspiration from my everyday experiences. I’m constantly pushing boundaries, exploring new ideas, and using storytelling as a foundation to create wearable pieces of art—designed not just to be worn, but to be cherished.

ASHAHA:

COUTURE: Why COUTURE? 

Lalla Oumaïma Benharbit: COUTURE represents a rare balance between artistry and intimacy. It’s a space where design is truly seen and understood. For ASHAHA, it felt like the natural environment to present pieces rooted in intention, craftsmanship and quiet strength.

C: What inspires you the most?

LOB: We are deeply inspired by contrasts, heritage and modernity, strength and softness, light and shadow. Berber symbolism, 1970’s sensuality, and the way light interacts with the body continuously shape our creative language.

C: What is your favorite part of the jewelry making process?

LOB: The moment an idea becomes tangible. Translating an abstract emotion into volume, weight and light is where the piece truly comes alive, it’s where intuition meets craftsmanship

BAETYL Jewelry:

COUTURE: Why COUTURE? 

Lorien Yonker: The COUTURE show is synonymous not only with luxury and quality but also with creativity and innovation. I’m excited to connect with others who appreciate the rare stones and unique designs we’ll be bringing to the show!  

C: Who are you most excited to meet during your COUTURE Debut?  

LY: As a new brand I’m looking forward to connecting with retailers to learn more about their needs and what their customers want. I’m especially interested in retail partners who appreciate the natural beauty and unique nature of colored gemstones; and whose clients are looking for something no one else will have.  

C: What has surprised you about the jewelry world thus far?   

LY: I was really surprised by how supportive the industry as a whole and other designers have been. There’s very little gatekeeping – everyone has been incredibly generous in sharing their knowledge and experience.  

Camille Beinhorn:

COUTURE: How do you fuel your creativity?  

Camille Beinhorn: I find that my creativity comes from proximity — being close to materials, where they come from, and to the artisans who work with them. I’m constantly observing my various surroundings — nature, time spent in Jaipur. 

I also look at a lot of art — especially paintings. It’s an ongoing process of absorbing and channeling rather than seeking.  

C: What is your favorite part of the jewelry making process? 

CB: My favorite part is selecting stones and composing in color. I’ve always been fascinated by gemstones. I spend a lot of energy sourcing and have been on some pretty adventurous gemstone journeys. 

That direct connection with the materials, their origin and the centuries of trade that precedes my exchange lends intuition to my process. 

Cultus Artem:

COUTURE: COUTURE: What inspires you the most?  

Holly Tupper: My inspiration comes from sensory memories as well as exposure to material and methodology.  

Having lived and worked across three continents I have witnessed remarkably different approaches to creating — whether with tools, techniques or even language — which has led to my own unique style. 

I have a fascination with the tactile, sensory, and visual experiences that shape our relationship to beauty. Jewelry, fragrance, and skincare are not separate disciplines in my mind, but rather different expressions of the same creative language. 

Across all areas of my work, I explore traditional, time-intensive techniques to transform rare and precious materials into distinct sensorial compositions. Whether sourcing exquisite gemstones or composing scents, my process is rooted in patience, craftsmanship, and a reverence for materials. 

C: What is your favorite part of the jewelry making process? 

HT: What excites me is the inherent beauty of gemstones both transformed by human hands or left pristine as they were found in nature. I love working with the juxtaposition of seemingly familiar materials; pairing the rough with the refined, the crystalline with the hand-hewn and the organic with the streamlined. 

I definitely work from the material up — spending time contemplating the structure, form and color of gemstones — their wholeness and their sculptural relation to others. Working with the most precious rare materials and conceiving of things in three dimensions to create a sculptural whole. 

As a craftsman, I seek to reveal the beauty and unique character of my stones and present them in a new light. The resulting sculpture is a more fulsome expression. I use the magical and the ordinary. Happily finding unique mysteries in the ordinary… 

The joy of being able to lose myself in the design and making process reminds me how lucky I am to be a working artist.

Daniel Yu:

COUTURE: Why COUTURE? 

Daniel Yu: When I first entered the jewelry industry in 2024, COUTURE felt distant and highly selective—the kind of platform you earn your way into. Being part of it now is an opportunity to position my work alongside some of the most refined voices in fine jewelry, and to present it to a more discerning, global audience. 

C: What inspires you the most?

DY: What inspires me most is my clients. Every custom piece is a collaboration—each person brings a different life story, perspective, and taste. That exchange creates tension and dialogue in the design process, and that’s where the most original work comes from. It’s never just my idea—it’s something we arrive at together. 

C: How do you fuel your creativity? 

DY: My process is rooted in writing, sketching, and building in 3D. Coming from an architectural background, I approach jewelry through form—geometry, proportion, material, and contrast. But more importantly, creativity comes from looking outward. 

I constantly absorb from different disciplines—architecture, nature, art—and then edit aggressively. Over time, that process of selection and reinterpretation becomes something original. 

Dorothée Potocka:

COUTURE: Why COUTURE?

I founded my company in 2019, after years of creating jewelry. Until now, my work has developed through word of mouth. I look forward to presenting it to a wider audience, meeting buyers and experts at COUTURE and connecting with the American public.

C: Who are you most excited to meet during your COUTURE debut?

DP: I am excited to meet people that expand my field, through new perspectives, new ways of seeing, and encounters that challenge and refine my work.

C: How do you fuel your creativity? 

DP: Through daydreaming, by creating space where thoughts can unfold freely until something becomes clear. Through art, music, nature, not so much for their forms, but for the emotion they bring.

Through the relation with the excellence of the craftsmanship I work with, the dialogue between us deeply fuels my creativity.

Through studying the cosmos, and the ways humans have tried to understand and relate to it.

İTÄ:

COUTURE: What inspires you the most?

Inés Capó & Äfet Burcu Salargil: The dialogue between cultures. Especially the surprising overlaps in shapes, symbols, and rituals that repeat beyond borders.

C: How do you fuel your creativity?

İTÄ: Despite building our brand together, we spend much of the year working across oceans—one of us in Istanbul, the other in San Juan. Because of that distance, the moments we share in person become our greatest source of creative energy. Our work is rooted in friendship, and it’s within that exchange of cultures, perspectives, and lived experiences that ideas begin to take shape.

C: Who are you most excited to meet during your COUTURE Debut?

İTÄ: We’re excited to meet our fellow Design Atelier brands from different parts of the world. It’s a special section of the show to be a part of and though we’re sharing the same space we’re all at different stages of growth. We can all learn a great deal from one another.

Pen Mané: 

COUTURE: Who are you most excited to meet during your COUTURE Debut? 

Vincent Guy: I am looking forward to connecting with fellow jewelry lovers who share my passion for craftsmanship and creativity. Meeting successful established brands will be enriching, as I admire their journeys and achievements in the industry.

I am also eager to engage with fellow ambitious entrepreneurs—those who dream big and are unafraid to pursue their visions, as their energy and enthusiasm can be incredibly inspiring. 

COUTURE: What has surprised you about the jewelry world thus far? 

VG: I have been pleasantly surprised by the incredible ability of the jewelry world to innovate continuously. The industry evolves alongside current lifestyles, embracing change and integrating new ideas.

This adaptability fuels my enthusiasm as I explore how I can contribute to this ever-evolving narrative with fresh designs that resonate in today’s context. 

YÉ Brand:

Why COUTURE? 

Mona Ye: I love the community COUTURE has created for its designers and retailers. It feels like the perfect setting to connect and foster new relationships with people who share a deep appreciation for jewelry- with true lovers of the art and the craft. 

It’s always been a dream of mine to debut and become part of this amazing group of people who really are masters of their professions.   

C: Who are you most excited to meet during your COUTURE Debut?  

MY: I am most excited to meet our current partners that we’ve connected with through social media, but have not yet had the opportunity to meet in person. It already feels like we’ve known each other for years, so I’m so excited to make it even more official. 

I’m also looking forward to all of the new connections I’m sure to make with both designers and prospective retailers alike. It’s really surreal to be able to look around in almost any direction and see someone that you know you’re bound to be inspired by