Sat face to face with Carla Amorim, I ask her how she manages to keep her loyal clientele whilst appealing to younger generations. “Thanks to my creative freedom,” she explains. “It always pleases me to see how my very first clients still wear my early designs.”
By designing timeless pieces, Amorim has skilfully managed to stay ahead of the game and yet maintain the essence of her style that has seen her become one of the most successful Brazilian jewellery designers in history. A difficult task that only the very best in their field are capable of achieving.
Since Carla started crafting jewellery almost 19 years ago, she has set her own rules and designs how she pleases, obtaining harmony and beauty in each and every single jewel. “All of my creations belong to the same family and are engraved with my own DNA,” she says – an instantly recognisable look that is mainly inspired by nature, architecture and religious values rather than by fashion and fleeting trends.
Influenced by her native Brasilia and its mid-century architecture, she admits a lifetime of admiration for Brazilian-born masters such as Oscar Niemeyer and Athos Bulcão. However, mindfulness and a spiritual connection have always been her primary sources of creative enlightenment. “I am grateful for this precious gift that God has given me, so I strive to offer the very best of my talent in return.”
And indeed she does - with utter devotion. Her newborn “Coleção Amar” is a very special homage to Motherly love. Each piece has been named after a particular sentiment: “Cariño” (caring), “Ternura” (tenderness), “Encanto” (enchanted), Equilibrio (equilibrium) and Envolva-se (intertwined).
Ever-present in her work is the wonder of nature. A new collection debuted earlier this year called Forest features abstract representations of bananas, guavas, centipedes, ferns and the spiky leaves of the aloe vera plant – a lush and vibrant homage to Amorim’s family retreat in the Amazon rainforest.
When asked about the future, Carla prefers not to let forecasting get in the way of her creative process. “I never plan – things just happen day by day for me. I am thankful and feel blessed by this talent, so I just do my part - I love, I pray and I work.
