Interview by: Marina Radovanovic  www.ramp1885.com

I recently had the privilege to interview an amazingly talented woman that creates exceptional pieces of jewellery in Tel Aviv, Israel. By using a stunning array of colours, combined with vintage and contemporary styles and hand embroidered techniques; the haute couture collection is a must-see!

Dori Csengeri has her collection featured in various leading bridal, lifestyle and fashion publications. It is with no wonder that her exquisite jewellery is presented world-wide in prestigious jewellery stores, galleries and museums!

It is clearly evident that Csengeri loves her work, as this is reflected in her timely pieces. Brides and women who want that extra special and significant jewellery piece can find exactly what they are looking for, as Dori Csengeri has a vast selection in bold and cheerful to subtle and romantic colours. There is a design and colour to match every woman’s needs and preferences!

Dori Csengeri sat down with us an chatted about her unique and beautiful jewellery collections and how it all began.

How did you begin creating the jewellery; what inspired you to start this venture?

During my studies of textile design in Paris at the Academie de Port-Royal, I was experimenting with collages from textile materials. This is how the soutache cords landed on my desk. From there on, the road to jewelry was fairly short. I started with small color compositions in textiles, which evolved into beautiful lapel brooches. With time and experience, I developed an embroidery technique, that is suitable for creating textile-based jewelry and realized that the jewellery path is the right path for me.

Aside from the prominent magazines where your fine collection is displayed, are there exhibits and events where the collection may be seen and purchased?

Stores buyers & owners come to see our collection and place orders at trade shows such as: Première Classe Tuileries & Porte de Versailles in Paris, MACEF & Super in Milano, NY Now in New York City, Ambiente in Frankfurt and Bisutex in Madrid.

Which jewellery pieces do you find is most popular amongst your clientele? 

I feel that a big part of personal taste is shaped by ones culture. While my Italian customers tend to be daring and they love bold colors, my New York customers are drawn to the more classical looking styles.  My jewellery collection offers a wide array of styles that are deliberately made in small, often changing series. This way, I can constantly present my customers with creative accessorizing possibilities that suit their personal tastes & styles.

Do you take custom orders?

Yes. One of my favorite custom orders was an upper-arm cuff for a bride who asked me to find a creative way to “link” two of her grandmother’s brooches into my design. It wasn’t an easy task, but I truly enjoyed designing the cuff especially since in my eyes, jewelry pieces are the safe-keepers of our “treasure moments of life”. They reflect our memorable moments and occasions whether joyous, emotional or romantic.

Are your designs inspired by seasonal fashion trends?

My work is a synthesis between the past and the present.  On one hand, I preserve the old tradition of hand-embroidery and ‘Savoir Faire’. On the other hand, my designs are very current. I like viewing the fashion trends forecast about a year or two before the season, so I have enough time to explore the seasonal colors and shapes and make them my own.

Do you find that certain moods, the arts or events trigger inspirations/ideas for designs?

I find that “all of the above” can trigger inspiration. There are no rules and no winning formula for “sparking the creative mood”, but healthy doses of curiosity and playfulness definitely help. As I sit at my worktable, my mind’s wheels begin to turn and things like memories, art, nature, scenery, color, and the little details of life start surfacing in my mind. Each embroidered piece starts as a collection of materials and by the time it’s finished it turns into a new and unique jewelry that conveys my mood and my thoughts.

Your bridal collection is breath taking and it is wonderful how you have combined traditional bridal styles with contemporary and romantic styles. Have you found that soon-to-be-brides lean on any particular style, or remain dedicated to the traditional pearly white accessories? 

I’m really happy to say that most of our brides have defined tastes and are in charge of their look. They are looking for unique pieces that reflect their personal styles.  Even the brides that are attracted to the classic pearls accessories come to my atelier in search of what I call “the updated pearl look with a twist”…

Are there any plans to expand your brilliant style and carry it onto clutches, various accessories and perhaps clothing and shoes?

I recently launched a capsule collection of digitally printed kaftans, tunics and shawls. The idea behind the collection is to inspire women to dream and picture themselves as glorious movie sirens. In my mind, a kaftan is all about a luxurious treat and a fun fantasy combined in one accessory.

In which stores/boutiques may we find your marvelous collection for purchase?

Retail customers can find our collection at many great boutiques, jewellery stores and galleries all over the world.  The stockists list is very long, so I’m just going to name a few:

Alix Bijoux Paris & St. Tropez, Imarika in Milan, LuisaViaRoma in Florence, Pierre in Monaco, Tom Shot in Berlin, Una De Tres in Barcelona, British Museum store in London, MAD museum store in NYC, Svenskt Tenn in Stockholm, Matsuya Ginza, Tokyo, Harvey Nichols in Hong Kong and of course, our online store www.DoriCsengeri.com .

If we may venture to ask; what collection are you focusing on now?

I’m currently designing & making the very last color groups of our Fall-Winter 2013-2014 collection. In this collection, the emphasis is on multi-faceted pieces that have both a feminine allure as well as a harder edge. The colors are somewhat muted and reflect a sense of mystery. I designed each jewelry piece to be literally seen in a different light any time a woman wears it.

Needless to say, Dori Csengeri’s collection is eye candy! To view more of the wonderful designs and colours of her masterpieces and to keep up-to-date with the latest creations, visit: www.DoriCsengeri.com.