Take time to build sustainably
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Introducing ILHA Collection
Some say that nostalgia isn’t a good feeling because it makes us look at our past. But the past, present and future are deeply related. We can’t build a present without our past experiences.
Nostalgia is described as a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past. Little do we know that a lot of the decisions we make in the present are based in what we learned to appreciate and love in the past.
I am happy to show you ILHA, my newest project and one of my biggest so far. I started designing this collection back in 2020 and we went into the production phase and I thought that something that was so important to me couldn’t be represented in only 5 pieces of jewellery.This collection was something deeper than that.
ILHA means island in Portuguese. It’s definitely a nostalgic feeling that always comes back because I love it so much. Back in 2017 I started spending more time on a few islands that I really enjoy and I created a vision of what that means in terms of design, colours, materials, feelings and lifestyle. Everything is intertwined and the concept for this collection was brewing for a long time.
With every creative project sometimes you have the right pieces but you don’t know how to connect them and it takes time to bring new ideas to life.
That’s one of the reasons why time is so valuable because by having the time to explore new concepts and analyze them, you can rehearse what you had imagined.
My goal as an artist and a designer is to dig deep into what I enjoy doing. I have no interest on presenting several collections in a year because that isn’t my natural creative pace.I personally think that taking the time to do anything well is the most valuable thing you can do.
Taking the time makes you realize that there is more to something than you thought. Time, nostalgia and building a beautiful future brought me to ILHA.
Enjoy!
Cyntia Miglio.
Freedom by Cyntia Miglio
I once read somewhere that “Freedom is a state of mind”. The idea of being free always entertained me. I used to think that being free was just being someone who didn’t care about anything such as money, their place within society, etc. But I soon realized that freedom was about choosing yourself and how you would like to live your life.
As you grow up, you start to understand that nothing is forever and anything or anyone can be taken from you in a split second. So I thought to myself that this whole concept about choosing security over uncertainty wasn’t for me. Nothing in life is guaranteed, so make sure you choose well. Life is definitely short.
For a long time I chose a secured path in life, by having a job that didn’t suit me, staying in relationships that didn’t add up and being happy with what was there for me. I was closer to settling for less over being free and being myself.
The thing about freedom is that it isn’t very easy to choose. You have many doubters on your way like yourself and others. I remember when I started to choose freedom and people would say “Be careful, if you become single at your age, later it will be hard to have a child!” “You quit your job? How are you going to survive only with this jewellery thing?” The questions I got from people made me think and of course scared me at that time. I would think “What am I doing? Is it going to be ok?” “I hope so!” :)
I am sure that the people who questioned me back then meant no harm.
The more you choose to be free by choosing to live a life that you love and are proud of, the more every decision you make feels great because it resonates with your heart.
Choosing your own path is never easy because there are many opportunities to settle for something familiar and comfortable. Comfort is very good and you can definitely get stuck in it but don’t! Make sure you choose what resonates with your heart. Being who you truly are takes courage and you have to leave certain things behind.
Choosing the unknown might look foggy at the beginning but as you start walking this path you will see a bit clearer as you go along. Dare to be brave and listen to your inner self. What is it saying?
Lead from there!
Cyntia.
Dreams by Cyntia Miglio
Ever since I was little, I always loved technology. I grew up in a small town in Brazil and the internet in the 90's connected me to the world I wanted to live in and experience.
I was probably 13 years old when I had my first computer. I would go on it and immerse myself for hours. I would connect to the dial-up internet via the home phone and cross my fingers to get connected.
Once connected, I felt happy and ready to dive into my world. I would go browse Elsa Peretti's collections online. I had seen her iconic Bone Cuff in a magazine once and became obsessed with it. I had to find everything about that cuff I fell in love.
Little by little I discovered all the pieces that Elsa designed and loved everything. That’s when I knew that I wanted to become a jewellery designer but at the time thought it would be too hard to be a jewellery designer here in this town. I needed to go somewhere else!
Fast forward to 2007 when I moved to Toronto. I did not speak any english. I was in school at the time learning the language. I walked by a jewellery studio and I could see people inside working and I thought, "How can I tell them that I would like to be there also making jewellery?" I just thought "Forget it! I don't speak english. I don't have a job. I better get going." I left and went on with my life.
I ended up learning english, finding a job and when I got my first paycheck, I went straight to get the Elsa Peretti's Bone Cuff that I dreamed of since I was 13 years old. That felt great!
I've learned to follow my intuition through life. I have met the right people that led me to pursue my dreams of being a jewellery designer. I went from that small town in Brazil to Toronto where I took every opportunity that was handed to me so that I could become what I wanted to be.
I was sad to hear about the passing of Elsa Peretti. It was an instant flashback to me as a kid seeing that beautiful cuff she designed. That design awoke something in me and made me chase my dreams and my calling.
I hope that this little story can inspire you to chase your passion, whatever makes your heart race a little faster and put a genuine smile on your face.
With love,
Cyntia.
IN CONVERSATION WITH COLLABORATOR STEFAN WILLIAMSON
Stefan works in the luxury retail space specializing in made-to-measure tailored clothing and men’s ready-to-wear client development. He also sits on various cultural committees within Toronto, including the Equity and Diversity Task Force at The National Ballet of Canada and Creative Current, the young professionals steering committee of the Luminato Festival, Toronto’s Annual International Festival of Arts and Ideas.
Cyntia asks Stefan
1-How did you come to be involved in creative committees at cultural institutions in Toronto?
I've always been a patron of the arts in Toronto. The opera, ballet, symphony, and many galleries. I reached a point where I wanted to be more than a patron. I wanted to use my voice to help these organizations communicate more clearly to the groups interested in the art forms they produced. I also wanted to be a part of the arts community at a deeper level to learn from people with more experience and knowledge than I had. Through conversations at parties and other networking events, I was fortunate enough to speak with people who introduced me to other young professionals who sat on boards and committees of the arts organizations I wanted to be a part of. Those people were instrumental in giving me the opportunity to be involved. As a result, giving others the opportunity to be involved in the arts is very important to me.
2- What type of art do you like the most?
I’m a big fan of contemporary art, illustrators, and photographers. Outside of some of the larger well known commercial names, I appreciate the creative work of British illustrator Shantell Martin and NYC based photographer Lougé Delcy (Dapper Lou). Locally in Toronto, I enjoy the art of Ness Lee, Tabban Soleimani, and Alexis Eke.
3- What have you been doing to keep yourself occupied during the pandemic?
Not gonna lie; I’ve fallen victim to the Netflix wormhole and have binged on a bunch of shows, but I have also tried my best to use the downtime to cultivate more meaningful relationships and read. I used to despise FaceTime, still do. However, it has allowed me to stay connected visually with friends and grow relationships with some great people who I may have only seen here and there at parties or traded a few memes with on Instagram. Bookwise, some good reads were James Baldwin’s Notes of a Native Son (I’m late, yes I know), David Goggins Can’t Hurt Me, and The Cleo Reader: 2013 to 2019, which is a book dedicated to film and film culture from an intersectional feminist perspective. I also cycled. A lot.
4- Do you have a favourite movie?
Christopher Nolan is one of my favourite directors. Funny enough, I was talking to a friend the other day about the wave scene in Interstellar. It was incredibly well done. But a movie that has really stood out to me is If Beale Street Could Talk, directed by Barry Jenkins. It’s a beautifully shot film with some powerful performances by all the actors. A tragic love story that shows how unfair life can be living in America while being Black. The score is very moving as well.
5- What is your favourite music album?
I grew up on New York hip hop from the ’90s. Nas, Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang. I love their music, but there is a time and place for that kind of vibe. It isn’t exactly a genre that transcends all moods. Having said that, for those who know me well, know that I’m pretty dynamic in the things that I absorb and that ties back to the music that I listen to as well. For me, D’angelo’s Voodoo is an album that has always resonated with me. Part hip hop, part soul but definitely always a vibe.
Stefan asks Cyntia
1- What brings you peace?
Cyntia asks Stefan
1-How did you come to be involved in creative committees at cultural institutions in Toronto?
I've always been a patron of the arts in Toronto. The opera, ballet, symphony, and many galleries. I reached a point where I wanted to be more than a patron. I wanted to use my voice to help these organizations communicate more clearly to the groups interested in the art forms they produced. I also wanted to be a part of the arts community at a deeper level to learn from people with more experience and knowledge than I had. Through conversations at parties and other networking events, I was fortunate enough to speak with people who introduced me to other young professionals who sat on boards and committees of the arts organizations I wanted to be a part of. Those people were instrumental in giving me the opportunity to be involved. As a result, giving others the opportunity to be involved in the arts is very important to me.
2- What type of art do you like the most?
I’m a big fan of contemporary art, illustrators, and photographers. Outside of some of the larger well known commercial names, I appreciate the creative work of British illustrator Shantell Martin and NYC based photographer Lougé Delcy (Dapper Lou). Locally in Toronto, I enjoy the art of Ness Lee, Tabban Soleimani, and Alexis Eke.
3- What have you been doing to keep yourself occupied during the pandemic?
Not gonna lie; I’ve fallen victim to the Netflix wormhole and have binged on a bunch of shows, but I have also tried my best to use the downtime to cultivate more meaningful relationships and read. I used to despise FaceTime, still do. However, it has allowed me to stay connected visually with friends and grow relationships with some great people who I may have only seen here and there at parties or traded a few memes with on Instagram. Bookwise, some good reads were James Baldwin’s Notes of a Native Son (I’m late, yes I know), David Goggins Can’t Hurt Me, and The Cleo Reader: 2013 to 2019, which is a book dedicated to film and film culture from an intersectional feminist perspective. I also cycled. A lot.
4- Do you have a favourite movie?
Christopher Nolan is one of my favourite directors. Funny enough, I was talking to a friend the other day about the wave scene in Interstellar. It was incredibly well done. But a movie that has really stood out to me is If Beale Street Could Talk, directed by Barry Jenkins. It’s a beautifully shot film with some powerful performances by all the actors. A tragic love story that shows how unfair life can be living in America while being Black. The score is very moving as well.
5- What is your favourite music album?
I grew up on New York hip hop from the ’90s. Nas, Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang. I love their music, but there is a time and place for that kind of vibe. It isn’t exactly a genre that transcends all moods. Having said that, for those who know me well, know that I’m pretty dynamic in the things that I absorb and that ties back to the music that I listen to as well. For me, D’angelo’s Voodoo is an album that has always resonated with me. Part hip hop, part soul but definitely always a vibe.
Stefan asks Cyntia
1- What brings you peace?
Silence brings me peace, also traveling on my own. I think without silence it's hard to observe how things work and formulate your own views about things. We have two eyes and one mouth for a reason. Traveling solo is also one of my favourite things. I love exploring cities, visiting art galleries and going into local shops. It's fascinating to me.
2- What was the last book you read?
The last book I read was the Company of One by Paul Jarvis. I was looking for a book to validate the way I manage my business because a lot of people tell me "you should expand, go big, you need to be at this shop in this city, etc" I find it overwhelming, because I like to create things at my own pace. From the beginning I created my brand with the intent to be creative and less commercial. I also manage every aspect of my business on my own. I only have my assistant that helps me with my collections. This book gets into the topic of why staying small is the next big thing for business. Very interesting read. I also read the Stanley Kubrick Archives when I was designing the ORBIT Collection, a very insightful book if you like Kubrick's aesthetics in cinema. It's always at my desk and is a great reminder of pushing your ideas forward.
3- Has anyone ever tried to quiet your creative voice on a collaborative project?
Perhaps, but I don't think it was meant intentionally. Sometimes people also would like to put their ideas out and it's normal to have some sort of a clash but it is part of the process.
4- What advice do you have on the humility of being an entrepreneur?
I think a lot of people don't want to start from the bottom. People don't want to look embarrassed, they want to look great all the time. I also didn't want to look embarrassed either but when I had quit my full time job and I was just with this business that was so new I had to go out and look for opportunities and simply figure out a way to make money with what I like doing. I would go anywhere people invited me to do a pop up or event, did not matter to me where it was, I would just be there. I remember even buying a folding table for events just in case the organizer would say "we don't have a table" then I could say "I have one and I can bring it!" I have many funny stories. I look back and I always laugh because they are always humbling like having an Uber leaving me in the middle of the street in a snowstorm because they didn't want to damage their car with my table and all my event props.
5- What has been the most rewarding moment so far of your jewelry career?
I think it was working on a large special order request for a client of my porcelain dishes to decorate their Villa in the south of France. I was like "Why do they want this?" "Are you sure?"I think I packed the porcelain like 10 times to make sure it wasn't going to break. Also friends who text me when they see someone at a party wearing my jewellery. I feel extremely happy even if I am at home on my couch. I don't go out much so having my pieces going to parties sounds fun to me.
In conversation with Photographer Steven Lee
Cyntia asks Steven Lee
1. What's your favourite subject when it comes to photography?
I started my career as a street style photographer, so that will always be my favourite. I loved going around New York or Paris, shooting people on their way to a fashion show, dressed up in their favourite outfit and looking their best. You can always tell when someone loves what they're wearing, it shows up in their face and the way they walk. Now that I do not shoot street style anymore, I enjoy photographing still life and being able to tell a story through objects in a photograph. In terms of what I love looking at, portraits are my favourites, and definitely something that I would like to explore more.
2. What keeps you inspired?
Looking at other people's work and what they're doing and discovering new photographers. I collect magazines such as T, WSJ, Self Service, Kinfolk, Arena Homme +, Hero, Love, and whenever I find a photo spread that I like, I always try to find the photographer on Instagram and see more of their work. I also love watching interviews of my favourite designers and listening to them talk about what inspires them, especially if it's a collection that I really enjoyed. I find it so inspiring to listen to other creatives talk about their inspirations and how they translate that into their own work.
3. Can you name 2 great movies or shows to watch during this season?
The pandemic has really given me the time to catch up on all the shows and movies that I wanted to watch, but didn't have time to. I recently started watching The Undoing with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant and finished the whole series in a day. Other great shows that I got into were Downton Abbey, The Queen's Gambit, Veep, The Morning Show, there are so many good ones!
4 What's your advice to someone who would like to be a photographer?
One of the best experiences I got during my first job at Hudson's Bay was to be able to go on set and see how other photographers work, to see how they interact with the model, make them comfortable, get them to do what they were envisioning, see how they communicated with the hair and make up team and stylist, etc. It may not seem like the most important skill to have as a photographer, but most of the time, photography is teamwork, and it is as important to have a good way of communicating and interacting with your peers as having the other obvious necessary skills. I always recommend new photographers to assist a professional photographer in one way or the other, and to absorb everything. You always need to keep learning - look at magazines and photographs, study the masters, try to figure out what makes you attracted to an image, is it the lighting and how do you achieve it? Is it the angle the image was shot at, or the composition of the photograph?
Steven Lee asks Cyntia
1. What's your starting point when thinking of a new collection? How do you get inspired?
I believe the starting point is deep thinking and intuition. Design is intuitive, you have to pick up the signs along the creative process. It is extremely exciting and beautiful. I love reading about design and also observing the movement of objects and fabrics. That really inspires me. I think there is nothing more beautiful than a garment with movement and fluidity.
2. As a small business who is just starting out, what would you say were some of your hardest obstacles to overcome?
There are many steps involved when it comes to starting a business. The ability to keep moving forward is the most important thing when it comes to obstacles. The hardest obstacles are being able to focus and believe in your work. To follow your own path even if you are not so sure where it will lead you.
Have the trust within yourself and go on. Mistakes are there for you to make and also learn. Sometimes in design a mistake can be a solution, so keep on going no matter the circumstances and adjust accordingly like you are sailing. : )
3. If you were not a jewellery designer, what else would you be doing?
I grew up with the idea of being a fashion designer. As I mentioned before I love fabrics and their movements, I have attended classes of pattern making back in university and it was extremely difficult and I didnt have the passion for it, so I let it go. If I was not a jewellery designer I would be into the film industry, I love many aspects such as scripts, photography and music, I am very curious about it. I read and watch old cinema constantly and it always amazes me all the process behind it's a true work of art.
4. If you could get anyone dead or alive to wear your jewellery, who would it be?
I would love to see British interior and furniture designer Ilse Crawford wearing one of my pieces. I love her work and her whole point of view about design.
Gift Guide by Cyntia
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