In Conversation with Jero Leeflang

Meet Jero Leeflang, the Amsterdam-based jewellery maker that is giving traditional techniques an innovative make-over. In light of our collaboration with him coming out this Thursday, we got a chance to catch up with Leeflang to talk about his personal story and process. And get excited, because this Thursday 17h-20h marks the launch of our earrings together – and you and your holiday wish list won’t want to miss it ;).

How are you today?
I’m doing good! Just finished some cool projects and today I’m finishing up on our safety pin earring collaboration. So feeling overall happy and grateful to be making stuff 🙂 

Can you tell us a bit about your journey? How did you get to where you are now?
I started going to jewellery school after highschool. Then after 2,5 years I quit because I felt like I had the basics I needed to start for myself. Since then, I’ve been learning by making and taking on every commission I get. I’m very happy that I’m now at a point where I can only do jewellery and also focus on more free work!

Can you give us a little insight into your creative process?
I like to just start working directly from an idea. No drawing. Nothing on paper. Starting directly in the metal, wax, or around a stone. That feels a lot more free to me. Not being bound to the initial idea but giving myself the space to change during the process. 

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Just the things that I experience and see in life. Also listening to people and their look on things. My studio is in a space with 25 other artists all practising different disciplines. I think it’s super interesting to see their view since we are all making from the same principles applied to different materials 

What’s something you can’t live without?
Maybe this is a boring answer…but it has to be my studio, I have become my work and it is what gives me energy and makes me happy.

Can you tell me more about the upcoming collab with us? What was the motivation behind these pieces?
The concept of these designs started with inspiration we took from basic “trash” objects. As Glamcult Store and my studio are both situated within the messy city centre, trash is basically everywhere. Also beer taps and safety pins are worn within punk culture and styled In such cool ways. So for me as a goldsmith I got inspired to make those “trash” items into something sustainable – and something we genuinely want to wear –  from silver.