Photo: Getty Images.

From rummaging through her mother’s jewelry box to embellishing the models of Althea Harper’s fall 2011 presentation, Amy Delson has come a long way with her original and empowering designs. We caught up with the designer, who dishes on creating her designs by hand, earliest inspirations, and more.

ELLEgirl: How did the apparel of Althea Harper influence your designs for the show?

Amy Delson: I love to mix old and new materials and artifacts in my jewelry designs, so Althea’s clothes portrayed an aesthetic that naturally resonated with me—a co-mingling of the golden and modern era. We spoke about the muses for her fall 2011 collection—the screen heroines of ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s—and how the vulnerability and courage of these actresses helped them transcend their victim roles. Here with these clothes, Althea empowered the screen siren archetype as a modern woman.

EG: What is unique about the jewelry design process in comparison to other aspects of fashion design?

AD: The jewelry design process can be unique in that while you must maintain a sense of proportion, you don’t have to be as concerned with fit and function in the same way as you do with clothes. I think on some level, you can be freer to explore more versatility among body type, age, and occasion.

EG: What type of woman do you imagine to wear your jewelry?

AD: I’ve designed jewelry for everyone from young girl to mature adult, minimalist to maximum glamour. I generally imagine a woman who reflects her changing moods through her accessories and has fun with her jewelry. She chooses a piece to wear on a given day to  communicate that she’s feeling playful, sexy, strong, feminine, spiritual.

EG: Is there any one person or idea that inspires your design style in general?

AD: I am inspired by vintage beads and artifacts and period dress, and love to re-purpose elements of antique jewelry, combining them with new materials in a fresh, contemporary way. I remember as a little girl, playing in my mother’s jewelry box with her costume and real jewelry pieces, and the odd foreign coin, button or silver dollar that was thrown in there. I would love to help her choose what combination of beaded bracelets to wear. It made a lasting impression on me how just one or two pieces could unleash a whole new style sensibility. Now, she has given me many of these pieces to take apart and work with in my own designs.

EG: How do you take your designs from the conceptual process to the hard product?

AD: I make everything personally by hand, so I generally lay out the beads and other elements on a spacing board, and I wire, string, knot, and crimp my jewelry pieces together using my tools—different pliers, wire cutters, and an awl. I almost always adapt as I go and the pieces start to take real shape.

EG: What is your favorite part about the design process?

AD: My favorite part about the design process is that I start with an idea, and then experience the reward of creating a tangible end result that brings joy, comfort, excitement, and confidence to someone wearing my piece.
Photo: Amy Delson.

Amy Delson’s work can be found on Facebook and for those looking to take home one of Delson’s original pieces, she can be contacted at amydelson@gmail.com.