For women interested in entering the fashion industry, what advice would you give based on your experiences?
Christie - I worked in luxury fashion for 10 years before we started Otiumberg and learnt a huge amount. I think it’s important to work out what it is you want to do in the industry. If you’re not sure, try and secure some work experience as it’s often then that you realise what it is you are passionate about - studying is great but you need to be in the environment to see how businesses work. Don’t be scared to move around too - for example, I started off in the buying department at Burberry, moved to PR with Louis Vuitton, then on to events and VIP management.
Why the decision to invest in a bricks and mortar store? What plans do you have for the space?
Nothing beats seeing jewellery in real life. When you feel the pieces and try them on, you realise how much detail goes into each piece, that the weight is perfect, not too light, not too heavy, and that there is a real sense of timelessness with the designs. It’s exciting to see the full collection in person, try on cuffs and then move onto chains. A store for us was inevitable as we knew our customers wanted to experience the brand, we just needed to find the right space that worked for us and felt truly Otiumberg. We are also hosting trunk shows in-store where customers and friends of the brands invite their friends or colleagues and sip coffee or champagne while trying on and shopping for jewels. It’s a great way to get women together, catch up with friends and treat yourselves or each other. One-to-one appointments are also available which customers can book online, a lot of men tend to book in for these and we ensure they have the right advice and styling suggestions.
What’s next for Otiumberg? Are there any more exciting projects our readers can look forward to?
Yes, our beautiful new personalisation bracelets called Totem - letters that can spell out the names of loved ones, friends, children or pets in different colour cords. Stack and wear on your wrists, or gift to someone special. We are always working on so many different projects all the time, from pop ups in Japan to piercing parties in the store. There is never a dull moment!