The Background

Lorraine Astrid jewellery celebrates the joy of being and the fullness of life with all its special people and moments. In doing so, family ties are at the heart of the brand. The name of the label reflects it: Lorraine Brenninkmeijer drew the inspiration for her first collection, „Say It”, from her grandmother Astrid. As a child, this elegant and free-spirited woman had taught Lorraine how to sew. And sparked her interest in jewellery. Astrid passed away young but left her granddaughter a gift of eternal radiance. The memory of her bright personality, her creative energy, and the talent to cleverly stage one's own style. Her grandmother's quick-witted manner of mixing and matching carefully selected costume jewellery casually with gold pieces influenced Lorraine's approach to her design process. Each piece of jewellery is a tribute to a beloved person – a tribute to Astrid.

The Design

The aim of Lorraine Astrid's jewellery is to remind us of our most beautiful moments and of the people who have made them special. The inspiration for Loraine's letter designs in gold, enamel and diamonds came from children's bracelets with plastic initials, which she felt should be reinterpreted in a luxurious way and in the spirit of her grandmother. What appealed to Lorraine was the idea of transforming an object that at first glance seems worthless, yet is emotionally valuable, into precious materials. In the process, each design has its own twist. Literally, in fact: all the pendants and letter beads can be turned around and have a letter, a number or a symbol made of diamonds on each side. Even the classic hoops can be varied by adding charms. This makes them easy to wear regardless of fashions, moods, trends, gender, or age, and they can be combined effortlessly for an everyday look. Customisable according to your own wishes, Lorraine Astrid jewellery cherishes the universal topics of life and expresses them with positive words such as „Happy”, „Dream” or „Love” following the collection theme „Say It”. And when language fails, there are always the symbols: smileys, hearts, hashtags, or numbers work reliably regardless of different cultures and religions.

The Intention

Lorraine Astrid jewels intend to be a gesture of affection and a metaphor of bond. Therefore, they are ideal as gifts for loved ones of all ages: godchildren, grandchildren or your own children, parents, grandparents and siblings, boyfriends and girlfriends – no matter which beloved person is to be gifted with it, a Lorraine Astrid piece of jewellery will always be a treasured keepsake that will be cherished for a lifetime. As such, every design in the collection has a deep meaning, celebrating the beauty of childhood and serving as a souvenir of the happy moments we have shared together.

The Materials

The journey of Lorraine Astrid begins in Istanbul, where a rich heritage of craftsmanship meets the excitement of modern design. In this magical place, that Lorraine Brenninkmeijer chose to be her home, all jewellery is crafted by hand in skilled workshops with great care and attention to detail. 18k white, rose, and yellow gold are used, as well as black, white and coloured enamel and black and white diamonds. The collection's highlight and focus are the brightly coloured gemstones such as carnelian, kunzite, aquamarine, tourmaline, aventurine and agate, which are polished into beads and lined up to create flexible bracelets. All gemstones are 100 percent natural and have not been enhanced in their colours. With their shimmering shades, they underline the easy esprit of Lorraine Astrid jewellery – and at the same time the personality and longings of the person who wears them. A gemstone is never merely jewellery alone, but a mineral of its very own structure, strength, and charisma. Just like every human, every gemstone tells its own story.

The Designer

Born in the USA, the designer with American and Dutch roots lives and works in Istanbul. At a young age, her family background gave her profound insights into the textile industry, sharpened her eye for both materials and details, taught her a reliable instinct for fashions and trends, and a sense for aesthetics. While interning in New York City, she created her first own costume jewellery by hand – and a pair of her earrings made the cover of the Chinese edition of Harper's Bazaar. Ever since, Lorraine Brenninkmeijer has been striving to create her own fine jewellery line that combines uniqueness and a very personal approach. A collection like Lorraine Astrid. Being one of five siblings, a wife, a mother, and a loyal person who maintains friendships across decades and borders, Lorraine is a committed human being to whom close relationships and strong bonds in life are of the highest priority. Her jewellery is an expression of this ideal, designed as a constant reminder of precious moments and special people, as well as to express a feeling of love and nostalgia.

With a special thanks to

 Press Contact 

Marion Kistler-Iadil
+49 (0) 171 310 8443
info@the-pr.com
www.the-pr-com

Photographer

Kosta Potezica
+49 (0)176 780 15833
mail@kostapotezica.com
www.kostapotezica.com