When she was just 25 year old, Danish-born jewelry designer Fie Isolde tragically lost her mother. The loss impacted her deeply on every level, including professionally.
"I have vivid memories of sitting on my mother's lap as a child, marveling at her necklace adorned with beautiful pendants," she says. "I also recall the delicate gold bangle she wore, a memento from her first solo trip during her younger days. Every time I touch her jewelry, I feel an intimate connection to her soul and the love she had for our family. Her precious jewelry became the most valuable and meaningful physical reminder of her presence in my family's life."
Those emotional bonds became the driving force behind what's become her own fine jewelry brand, Fie Isolde, which debuted in 2019, and opened its first store in Los Angeles earlier this year.
Considering her emotional journey, Isolde's jewelry befittingly feels soulful. The collection's funky, chunky styles, created through casting carved wax models, feature 14k and 18k golds, raw finishes, diamonds and colored gemstones. Boasting a refined brand of rusticity, the collection hearkens back to the smooshy-chic work of iconic Danish jewelry designer Arje Griegst.
"My Scandinavian heritage comes through in the more masculine aesthetic, which I choose to balance with the warmth of lots of yellow gold and colored stones," Isolde tells Gem + Jewel. "This balance and simplicity is key to my design, and I believe inspired by my heritage. I never want the gold and stones to compete with one another. In fact, when reviewing each piece at the end of the design process I often take away a couple of details to keep the look and overall collection very focused and intentional-feeling."
The jeweler and entrepreneur hand-sculpts each design, "resulting in my signature organic and raw look and feel." She's also a fan of jewelry that feels substantial in your hands, and when worn. "I believe that you really need to feel the weight of gold when wearing a piece, which is why my designs favor a bold and heavy aesthetic."
She moved to Los Angeles nearly eight years ago to scale her previous business, an agency representing Scandinavian fine jewelry in the U.S. "We were supposed to stay in Los Angeles for two-to-three years, but things change—and here I am almost eight years later."
Isolde's first boutique, a stylishly understated space a few blocks off Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, "is an integral extension of our brand," she adds. "You step into the world of Fie Isolde when you step into the L.A. flagship."
