Anissa's Treasure Chest
Based in London, Anissa Kermiche is a French-Algerian jewelry designer and a true multi-hyphenate. Famous for her sought-after jewelry collections, Anissa is also a skilled ceramicist and homeware designer and, as someone with an eye for shapes and designs, a fashion lover. Here, she tells us about her background, her style, her love story with jewelry and Vestiaire Collective.
My love story with jewelry...
... started from a young age. I would sneak into my mum’s jewelry box where I would find broken pearl necklaces and recreate them into anklets and I would create chokers from bracelets. It was my Ali Baba cavern! I stopped when my studies became intense and I forgot about my creative side. It is only after I graduated in engineering and had my first job in a big consulting firm, that I rekindled my love for making jewelry.
Fashion for me...
... is about emotions and memories. I grew up watching Carla Bruni, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer killing it on every runway. I still find myself thinking about the Versace Spring 2018 Ready-to-Wear show in Milan. If we're talking individual pieces, the one that got away for me is a Louis Vuitton bag designed by Frank Gehry called 'Iconoclast'. It was created at the same time the Vuitton foundation was built in Paris and I still remember being mesmerized by its futuristic shape, a bridge between architecture, design, and fashion.
My story with Vestiaire...
... started so long ago that I don’t remember when - am I that old? In France, it was impossible not to know about Vestiaire. It was part of the culture, like knowing a national bank holiday. I adore the platform because it allows me to find pieces everybody covets. Scrolling through is kind of like a fashion history lesson. I often visualize myself stepping into a Pucci or Versace shop in Capri in the 90s, or a Mugler or Jean Paul Gaultier shop in Paris. I love finding older one-of-a-kind pieces that I didn't even know existed.
I use Vestiaire Collective...
... to find one-of-a-kind items that tell a story, for instance, vintage sunglasses. I stopped buying new sunglasses altogether as I lose them constantly anyway. Plus, vintage sunglasses often cost a fraction of the price of new ones and they're so unique and have so much flair! I've found so many pairs on Vestiaire, whether they're vintage Courrèges or Chanel. When I get asked where they're from, I kind of love saying that they're not available anywhere but that you might find them on Vestiaire with a bit of luck! My Vestiaire pro tip is to look regularly, focus on brands you love (My favorites include JPG, Mugler, Celine, Pucci, Miu Miu, Prada, Alaïa, and Chanel) and to use filters to select your size (and the one above, as you can always get a piece tailored down!).