Today we introduce For The Man I Love who are new to the Fairy Tale Fair. You can find them selling at our November 13th fair at Brighton Open Market. Find out a bit more about them before your visit…
Please introduce yourself and your brand….
I started making silver jewellery for fun over 10 years ago. Initially I made ladies jewellery, but then experimented with a few pairs of cufflinks which sold really well, so I slowly expanded my cufflink range and began selling more and more. From this cufflink range, our brand “For the Man I Love” was born. My wife and I after realised there was a gap in the market for gifts for men apart from jewellery, that weren’t cheap gadgets or the usual boring shirts and socks that most men receive every Birthday, so we founded “For the Man I Love” to help men get the gifts that they really want!
How would you describe your style and your creations?
A lot of my jewellery is fun, images that most men relate to, a hobby, a passion or a comic book hero. But I do an awful lot of custom work, so for weddings I will do different cufflinks for each man of the wedding party for instance or cufflinks with their initials on, their own monogram even.
The ladies jewellery is often what my wife and daughters like, they give me the inspiration as their tastes are all very different. Along with shapes and styles that I find in nature, ideas that come to me in the middle of the night and even through shapes in a piece of furniture for instance, all can decide how an item of silver jewellery will end up!
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The joy I get when I spot a piece of my jewellery being worn is fantastic! The fact that so many of my pieces have been commissioned for a special occasion, means that in some way I am part of it. I have many customers who keep coming back for another piece, a piece that they design, or are buying for a gift or for themselves, all of them are special.
I have been teaching a few silversmithing classes in Cyprus where we have a house and have thoroughly enjoyed that. Early next year I start having couples come to my studio to design and make each others wedding rings.
What can we expect to find on your stall at The Fairy Tale Fair Brighton on November 13th at Brighton Open Market? And are you looking forward to taking part?
All sorts of fantastic funky jewellery! Ideal Christmas gifts obviously and there’s nothing wrong with buying a little something for yourself as well! I’ve been making some new rings for ladies and men which are proving very popular, and also some leather bracelets with sterling silver claps.
I am looking forward to this fair as it will be my first time.
Do you have a best seller?
There is a ladies pendant I make called the square ball, which can basically be worn as a square or turned on it’s side to make a diamond shape, it can be worn on a chain, a leather cord or as my wife often wears it on velvet. It can be worn at any length and is the most adaptable piece of jewellery I make.
Do you have any plans or ambitions for the future?
I am starting to make my own moulds from which I am doing my own casting, which is complicated to say the least, but it will enable me to make lots of new designs and help me keep the price lower (which is always a good thing). I am also starting enamelling which is something I have been interested in for a long time. More teaching as well, I expect, as I really enjoy seeing the reaction on the face of someone who has made their first piece of jewellery.
Do you have a motto or inspirational quote?
If you don’t believe you won’t receive is our family Christmas motto.
What part of Christmas do you enjoy the most?
Even though our daughters are grown up and my wife and I are really grown up (!) we still do each other stockings, each buying odd items including a guess the gadget which causes much hilarity on Christmas morning……
How can we find out more about you?
www.forthemanilove.com
http://twitter.com/forthemanilove
http://www.facebook.com/forthemanilove
http://www.pinterest.com/forthemanilove
https://www.instagram.com/forthemanilove
