Five minutes with... Victoria Casal

French jewellery designer Victoria Casal recently made her first foray into the Middle East with the launch of her latest work, which incorporates her trademark Hello Kitty range and an eclectic mix of rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces and pendants. Her unique collection, in which she draws inspiration from everyday symbolic objects such as keys, whistles, dog-tags as well as nature already retails in more than 15 countries. The brand also plans to eventually open a boutique in Kuwait, as part of its Middle East expansion strategy.

Victoria Casal, whose designs are worn by Cindy Crawford, Penelope Cruz and Victoria Beckham, spoke to Emirates Business about the company and her work.


You launched your first jewellery collection in Paris in partnership with your husband Jean Luc Barrier in 2000. When did your fascination for designing jewellery translate into business?

In 2000 my husband was already involved in the jewellery business. As a customer, I would always find it very difficult to find jewellery that matched my tastes and expectations. So I decided to design my own jewellery. I started by creating accessories and I was rather surprised at the positive reaction I got from my peers and the media. It took off from there.


To what do you credit the rise of the brand?

I guess it has to do with the fact that we are youthful and this has allowed me flexibility to experiment. When you are an old established brand, you tend to worry about legacy and history. I have none of that baggage. I am focused on my work and bring out no more than two collections a year. This gives me perspective, I am able to concentrate on my creations and this for me lies at the root of my success.


What philosophy is at the core of Victoria Casal jewellery and what characterises the brand?

A woman is unique and my collections reflect this sentiment. Jewellery should be fun and a pleasure to wear. It must also reflect the mood and the season and is, therefore, in a constant state of flux. That is why I bring out two collections annually to keep up with changing trends. People often say I am obsessed with pink, for me this represents femininity and is uniquely intended for the female gender. I like pink very much so it was a natural choice.


You have now obtained a foothold in the Middle East, an unrepresented region, in partnership with SCI (Sabah Chady Investments). What does this mean to you personally?

I am very happy to be in the Middle East. For me, the Middle East is a magical region and although it is my first visit here, I am already very inspired by the art, architecture and culture I see around me. In the future, I hope to be able to design a jewellery line based on my encounters here. Although I cannot provide a definite timeline for my own boutique here, there will be one in the near future.

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