Meet the Maker - Charlotte Joy
Gemstones and their beneficial properties have been widely acknowledged for centuries; from Ancient Mesopotamia to Cleopatra in Egypt and futurist Nicola Tesla, who believed in the powers of the electrical charge vibrating from within them. However, only recently have they begun to leave the realms of mysticism for a more mainstream audience. Known for their healing properties, gems have historically been used as a part of spiritual practices, energy restoring rituals and in some belief systems, attached to parts of the body as tools for healing. However, we know that everyone can benefit from wearing these curative gems and crystals. Capable of calming, connecting, and emotionally soothing us, gems are known to increase our concentration and put us in touch with our inner conscious on a deeper level. Working from within their solid atomic structure, they vibrate at stable frequencies to interact with our bodily anatomical frequencies, shift those frequencies and thus stabilise us from within. Gems do not need to come into direct contact with our skin to serve their beneficial purposes, jewellery is a perfect way to feel the effects of these invigorating stones. Striking the perfect balance between fashion and style, and the elements and the soul, ‘laidback luxe’ jewellery brand Blanc Edit was born from a passion to create statement jewellery with timeless elegance. To find out a bit more about these beautiful earthly elements we spoke to Blanc Edit founder, Charlotte Joy.
‘I have always loved statement jewellery...when I was younger a highlight of my holidays abroad would be scouring local markets and buying handmade jewellery, often choosing large stones, and bright turquoise colours’, Joy shares. Blanc Edit came out of her love for statement pieces not lead by trends but rather a passion to design jewellery people will love for years. ‘I love the elements’ she says, ‘…sunrises, sunsets, the way the light hits the sea from the moon...I feel drawn to it’. The beauty of the natural world inspires and informs Joy’s designs. The celestial bodies also make it into her latest collection with luna power and grace represented in the cracked effect of the crescent moon necklaces, ‘I find it calming and peaceful’, she notes; so simple yet so potent.
Drawing on her childhood trips to Mallorca, Joy pays homage to the cerulean seas and sparkling white sands through the stones she chooses. ‘I love white quartz and Chrysocolla, the greens and blues feel so luxurious’, she says. Quartz is one of the most powerful healing and energy amplifying stones on the planet.
Its unique helical spiral crystalline form absorbs and releases energy. On a spiritual level, quartz raises our energy to its highest possible level. It has the ability to enhance our inner thoughts and allow us to attune to a deeper spiritual purpose. The purifying calm of wearing quartz is something we all could use at the moment Joy notes.
In a beautiful deep shade of teal, Chrysocolla is known as a tranquil and sustaining stone. The wearer feels encouraged to be self-aware and find inner balance. Emotionally, this stone reduces mental tensions and promotes impartiality. By helping us in overcoming fears, it draws negativity out and replaces it with self-confidence and motivation.
Amazonite will feature next in the Blanc Edit collection. Soothing and beautiful, this stone is associated with good fortune and success; it is used for manifesting your dreams and making things happen. Being mindful and using mindful practices, is one way for this stone to fulfil its purpose. Joy took up gratitude journaling recently and has found that taking twenty minutes out of her morning to list three things she is grateful for allows for each day to start with the calm and focus she needs to achieve her daily goals. This does not mean that everything has always come easy to the new business owner. The power to overcome challenges in manifesting is something Joy knows only too well. Building her business has been ‘learning curve after learning curve’. ‘In order to grow, we must make mistakes along the way’, she asserts, adding ‘I have felt like giving up several times through self-doubt, but I am grateful for all the mistakes and stumbling blocks because without them you will never grow’.
Growth is on the horizon for Blanc Edit. Moving beyond the carefully curated pieces that launched the brand, Joy is moving into the design sphere. Starting the company from scratch, it was important that it feel unique and personal to her. ‘When I first started, I was hoping to create a curated collection of pieces from around the world with a laidback luxe vibe that you wouldn’t see so much of in the UK’. But now, it’s time to go bolder and think bigger. Joy wants her pieces to be recognisable to all, knowing the design aesthetic is uniquely Blanc Edit upon first glance. ‘I want people to feel like they are wearing something pretty cool...a little different and a statement to help them express their individual style...an expression of who they are!’. In the next six months, Joy will make the brand feel even more personal to her with striking original pieces and a brand re-design.
What is your origin story? How did you get into Jewellery design and what motivated you to start Blanc Edit?
I have always loved statement jewellery...when I was younger a highlight of my holidays abroad would be scouring local markets and buying handmade jewellery, often choosing large stones, and bright turquoise colours. I am a makeup artist too and covid saw me lose almost 100% of my business, so after years of wanting to design pieces in the first lockdown I had the time and chose to use it and take the plunge and start my own jewellery brand.
What was your mission at the start of Blanc Edit?
When I first started, I was hoping to create a curated collection of pieces from around the world with 'laid back luxe’ vibe, that you wouldn’t see so much of in the UK and found some businesses that did wholesale, however as time went on I found myself coming up with my own designs and so I spent so much time researching and eventually found artisans that would bring my own designs to life.
Which stones are you most drawn to using and why?
I love Chrysolla, as I have always loved the boho, summery feel of a turquoise stone, I love green emeralds because they feel so luxury, and I love white quartz, said to be purifying and help to bring calm...I think we could all do with a bit of that in this world!
There is a soulful elegance to the pieces, where does the inspiration for design come from?
The brand is heavily influenced by spending so much time in Mallorca since I was a child as my dad lives there. I have always been fascinated with the women there who wear statement jewels and yet look so effortless...they all seem to have an individual style and just always look so cool...often wearing a really simple outfit but with a few statement jewels.
We’re in love with your Crescent Moon pieces. Can you tell us more about how the moon serves as inspiration for a few pieces in the collection?
I love the elements...sunrises, sunsets, the way the light hits the sea from the moon...I feel drawn to it and I find the moon so calming and peaceful....I love the cracked effects in the stone that we use for the crescent moons, they are simple yet interesting.
How do you want people to feel when they are wearing the pieces?
I want people to feel like they are wearing something pretty cool...a little different and a statement to help them express their own individual style...an expression of who they are!
What is up next for the brand? What does the future hold in store for Blanc Edit?
As I mentioned originally, I was planning on a curated collection, but now I am designing. I want to feel like the brand is more personal to me, so there will be a little re-brand and name change soon!
I’m going bolder with designs and bringing lots of new pieces out over the next 6 months. I would like to see the pieces stocked in more stores that align with the brand too!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
In order to grow we must make mistakes along the way. Starting this business has been learning curve after learning curve and I have felt like giving up several times through self-doubt, but I am grateful for all the mistakes and stumbling blocks because without them you will never grow.
What does the day in the life of a jewellery designer and founder look like?
I am always awake by 6.30am ...can’t live without a cup of tea and a sit in peace for 20 mins, then it’s school run, gym and back to working from home. Packing orders comes first, checking web analytics (new to all this and am currently doing all aspects of the business myself) I spend a lot of time on Whatsapp talking to my artisans so we can get designs and samples right, then planning content and marketing, before it’s time to pick my daughter up again!
Where do you get your inspiration from? Is there an artist or a role model that you draw inspiration from? How do you keep your energy focussed to stay creative?
Design Inspiration always comes from the med, the beautiful women that grace the shores and I also love the photographer Akila Berjaoui - she captures these women and the laid-back luxe life of European summers perfectly. The elements also inspire me - finding beauty in nature is always easy.
As far as the brand goes, I massively look up to SORU jewellery - I love the story behind the brand and how the sisters started with a small loan from their husbands to make the business work and they have achieved so much. I like how you can look at their jewels and instantly know they are theirs because they are different from so many other brands... I would like to get my pieces to the point people recognise them as the brand without knowing beforehand. Staying creative is the easier part, I just want to design pieces and see how they all come together...I find it harder to stay focused on the ‘business side’ of things...hopefully one day I can get help with that! A great tip I was given was to break your day or jobs into ‘power hours’ where you just focus on one task for that hour. I find that it is useful to focus and stop procrastination by setting a timer!
Do you have a daily mindful practice you’d recommend?
I’ve slipped out of the habit recently, but I do like to journal - writing 3 things I am grateful for each morning and what I would like to achieve that day...I do really like to just take 20 mins each morning with a cup of tea to just sit in the quiet though too. I don’t like to rush my mooring’s so this calm time helps to start the day well.
What’s your favourite place of all the places you’ve travelled? Has it been a source of inspiration at all?
I just love Mallorca...it’s my total happy place...there is always some tiny little cala to explore, beautiful mountains, crystal clear waters and sun! It always inspires me...I try to get here as much as possible.
Are you sunrise, daylight, twilight, or nighttime? Why?
Sunset! There is nothing better than sitting on a beach watching the sunset - reflecting on your day. It always makes me feel calm and at peace.
What book is in your coffee table, AKA what was the last book you read?
Atomic habits by James clear....so simple but so effective!
We love crystals and gem stones to bring calming energy or call in more self love and compassion. We know that brides to be are some of your clients, is there a specific piece or stone that you would recommend for anyone looking to manifest more abundance and love right now?
Amazonite is associated with good fortune and success as well as being soothing ...we just so happen to have some beautiful amazonite pieces in the making ...watch this space!
Words Holly Westwood