Photography by Natalie Ochoa Glossy job titles aren't simply given. There's an air of entitlement swarming our streets and it seems that much of our youth is inhaling it. Over on this end, we care less about your title and more about your skills. Agamemnon, creator of Agamemnon Jewelry, talks us through her career ambitions and some of what she thinks it actually takes to become a good jewelry designer.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Amy Agamemnon: I've always been interested in jewelry since I could remember. Growing up in the Jersey Shore, I collected and wore the craziest costume jewelry. I decided I wanted to further pursue my interest in jewelry design and fabrication when I was accepted to the Fashion Institute of Technology's Jewelry Design program. My high school counselor, family, and friends all thought it was a long shot. My parents didn't even want me to go to college! Nothing was handed to me, but I was always an eager, diligent worker, which I believe makes every bit of difference.
Can you describe the moment you knew you wanted to be a [jewelry] designer?
Amy Agamemnon: It wasn't until around 16 that I learned that I could really study jewelry design to pursue as a career. FIT was the only school I applied to despite everyone's persistent urges to reconsider my pursuit. My portfolio interview was an embarrassing joke at the time and I left devastated because I was certain I blew it. A month later I got my acceptance letter. While taking 8-10 classes a semester, I also got an internship with Anna Sheffield and helped with her Bing Bang line. I was there for a while and really saw hands on what it was like running a small yet growing business. From that internship I worked my way into designing for private label fashion jewelry companies like Urban Outfitters, Lord and Taylor, and Target.
Tell us about the inspiration behind Agamemnon Jewelry.
Amy Agamemnon: I find a lot of inspiration through architecture and interior/exterior decor. I'm drawn to modern, clean design. I love when people think outside of the box without being obnoxious about it. I love looking at architecture or the simple geometric details we often overlook everyday and think, "how can I scale that down and reinterpret to wearable jewelry?" The jewelry I design now in comparison to fashion jewelry is so much different. I focus on unique geometric stones, polish, and quality materials. Geoffrey Good was my professor at FIT and he said "jewelry should catch your eye in a subtle way, but not necessarily from across the room". Basically you can create unique jewelry without it being overly obnoxious.Who/what are some of your creative influences and why?
Amy Agamemnon: Frank Gehry's work is mind blowing to me. He really pushes the boundaries of architectural design. Same with Zaha Hadid — just saw the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul. I'm inspired by the minimalist movement. Coming from designing costume jewelry with so many details, sometimes too much is just distracting. Sure you can cover something in colors, ornate details and proportions but who made it? What is it made of? How long will you utilize it for? I'm also inspired to be part of a new age where we encourage more domestic designers and production, better quality, and less fast fashion. I think it's important that if we're going to live in an age where we're so concerned with what we eat, we should be just as concerned with what we put on our bodies. Fast fashion not only impacts the environment but so many lives.
"I think it's important that if we're going to live in an age where we're so concerned with what we eat, we should be just as concerned with what we put on our bodies."
You're bicoastal. How have your surroundings impacted your design process and creative energy?
Amy Agamemnon: Moving to the west coast in 2014 taught me patience and to appreciate the simple things in life that I easily overlooked living in New York (nature, weather, and personal space). We live in an age of consumption where "more" and "bigger" is better. I think there are too many distractions. Moving to Los Angeles gave me the time and space to get back into metal smithing and wax carving. I forgot the overwhelming feeling of excitement I had when I finished a piece. It's almost indescribable because like most forms of art, it's a time consuming and difficult process. Once you go through the motions of creating and you see your end result, that feeling of success and joy makes you forget the struggle. I'm constantly chasing that high which keeps me going.
What are some of the tactile and logistical skills you believe one should possess to run a business in your field?
Amy Agamemnon: Understanding jewelry fabrication and materials is a necessity. If you don't have general knowledge on the materials you're working with, it makes sourcing and production a lot more difficult. For example, I do a lot of wax carving so I have to consider shrinkage rates when creating the mold from the original wax carving. Metal allergies, stone setting, jewelry care, etc. — are all things that most people don't know unless they make the effort to learn more about. They're important factors to consider when designing. I've assumed people understood my fabrication process and the value/time that goes into each piece, but they rarely do. Besides jewelry knowledge, customer service skills are key. You may have a great product, but if you don't know how to effectively communicate with your clients then there's no point in going into business trying to sell goods. It's a lot harder selling your product to people who don't trust you.
"You may have a great product, but if you don't know how to effectively communicate with your clients then there's no point in going into business trying to sell goods. It's a lot harder selling your product to people who don't trust you."
Can you give us 3 tips for women who are aspiring to become entrepreneurs?
Amy Agamemnon:1. Don't compare yourself and your pursuits to other people's. There's a lot of distractions and too many opinions everywhere. Not everyone's journey/process is the same, so what works for others may not be the best route for you. Be more conscious of finding your target demographic and what they're interested in if anything.
2. Hustle harder. Your product/services will speak for itself but it takes time and continuous conscious hard work to keep yourself motivated. What separates you from every other entrepreneur is your dedication to keep evolving for your business to grow.
3. Practice patience and learn to be a flexible problem solver. I've learned nothing goes according to plan. The earlier you accept that and roll with the unexpected, it makes things a lot easier (mentally). It may not be what you planned for, but sometimes things fall through for better opportunities to present themselves at a better time. Just keep pushing forward.
What does Undo-Ordinary mean to you?
Amy Agamemnon: Undo Ordinary means whole heartedly and consciously living in the hustle of life while trying to maintaining your inner balance. We live our daily grind everyday and the more we try to connect rather than compete with those like minded individuals, we build a community together.
Photography Natalia Ochoa
