When two sisters quit their day jobs to start a jewellery company, run from their Williamsburg studio/apartments, everything says crafty hipster designs made from organic macaroni and ethical glue. In fact Nicole and Kim Carosella’s firm Sorellina is at the other end of the spectrum completely. High end, classically influenced and diamond studded, Sorellina jewellery (jewelry for our American cousins) is designed to make a bold statement, taking centre stage in an outfit and relegating the clothes to a supporting role.
We are fortunate to have been given a look around the sisters’ homes, separated by a couple of floors in the same New York building, and the rooms give a great insight into the influences that inform their designs; the blend of vintage and modern is one that is directly reflected in their jewellery. It’s been quite a meteoric rise for Nicole and Kim’s brand – Sorellina only started in 2011 but their work has been seen adorning the likes of Emma Roberts, Florence Welch and Demi Moore in the last 12 months. It already seems a far cry from the days when they melted down their mum’s 1980s jewellery to make their first collection, but the fondness for recycling remains strong. Much of the material in Sorellina pieces is recycled, and the stones were either mined pre-1940 or adhere to the strict monitoring standards of modern production. There is also a strong sense of the personal in Sorellina designs; a combination of the sisters’ familial relationship and the intimacy of their workspaces which translates into the intricate and exquisite pieces.
Nicole’s Workspace,
Photo © The Office Stylist
Kim’s Apartment,
Photo © Austin McAllister
Axl Marquise Earrings in Pink
Nicole’s Apartment,
Photo © Austin McAllister
Kim’s Apartment,
Photo © Austin McAllister
Puccini Cage Bracelet
Nicole’s Workspace,
Photo © The Office Stylist
Kim’s Apartment,
Photo © Austin McAllister
Photo © Rachel Been
