Making necklaces out of uncooked noodles or plastic beads in first grade is about as creative as most people can be when it comes to jewelry making.

Emilie Shapiro has done far more than that in her young career. A sophomore metalsmithing major, Shapiro has been creating art, jewelry in particular, for as long as she can remember.

‘When I was little, I loved taking things apart and putting them back together in different ways,’ Shapiro said. ‘I never liked having or wearing the same things as other people did.’

Shapiro grew up in what she called an ‘arty, free-thinking household.’ The artistic gene runs in her family, as her sister works at an art gallery.

She began making jewelry for the first time during her freshman year of high school, after her grandmother passed away. Shapiro discovered a duffel bag full of vintage jewelry that belonged to her grandmother and began using the pieces to create her own style of jewelry.

But soon after, Shapiro’s simple curiosity turned into something much more than a hobby.

‘After seeing how much I loved to make my own (jewelry), my dad bought me $200 of wholesale beads and stuff and said, ‘Happy Hanukkah,” Shapiro said.

From there, Shapiro started making jewelry not just for herself, but for her friends and as gifts. She also sold some of her pieces wholesale to local stores near her home in Long Island.

‘Hewlett Jewelers in my hometown put my stuff in their window when I first started. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for them,’ Shapiro said.

The business aspect of Shapiro’s jewelry design started during her freshman year at Syracuse University. People started noticing Shapiro around campus after a jewelry sale at the Schine bookstore at the beginning of second semester last year.

‘My line last year, Bauhaus, is really how I made my name here in Syracuse,’ Shapiro said. ‘I named the line after the first contemporary art school, and it’s where I get a lot of my ideas from.’

Shapiro’s jewelry is appealing to the college-aged masses because every single necklace, ring and bracelet is completely one-of-a-kind, designed and created solely by Shapiro.

‘I think people like Emilie’s jewelry because it’s so unique and there’s nothing else like it out there,’ said Emily Rubin, a sophomore public relations major. ‘It’s classy, sophisticated and not your typical jewelry.’

Most of the materials Shapiro uses are vintage and come from thrift stores, flea markets, bead stores in New York City and donations from friends and customers. Her father owns a textile company, so he finds Shapiro beads and jewels from all over the world to use.

‘One time I collected all of the pennies I found heads up and made a necklace as a kind of good luck charm,’ Shapiro said.

One of the most important concepts behind Shapiro’s jewelry making is what she calls ‘wearable art.’

‘I think one of the most important things about art is the meaning behind it,’ Shapiro said. ‘Anything I make is always inspired by something, whether it’s colors, snow, my own stress or even Syracuse. Everything comes from something.’

Shapiro’s Web site, which launched about a month ago, was her biggest investment in her jewelry business thus far. The site features jewelry that is ready to order, as well as a section that allows customers to contact Shapiro and buy their own custom designed piece. Shapiro even specializes in working with bridal parties.

‘Doing (bridal showers) was actually inspired by my sister who got engaged,’ Shapiro said. ‘The bride normally gives a gift to her bridesmaids, and they usually end up being really cheesy and expensive. I let the bride name her price and she gets very personal pieces of jewelry that reflect what she wants and my own creativity.’

Shapiro’s own style and aesthetic has evolved as she’s taken classes here at Syracuse and sold jewelry to a wide variety of clients.

‘Emilie (as a student) was vibrant, intellectually thirsty, focused and determined to do her absolute best,’ said foundation time arts professor Anne Beffel. ‘She was interested in growing and maturing her process as much as she was concerned with her end product.’

Shapiro doesn’t rely too heavily on deadlines; rather she lets inspiration guide her. She works on necklaces or bracelets for anywhere from 15 minutes to six months. She also places a lot of emphasis on the meaning of the jewels themselves, which is evident on her Web site.

‘It’s crazy what people used to do with jewels long ago,’ Shapiro said. ‘Like with moonstones, the facets reflect the sun in all different directions, so people would put them all over their body to protect them from sunstroke.

‘I like to keep some of those meanings intact, like how turquoise signifies friendship, so I made a necklace out of it for my best friend’s birthday. The meanings get lost if you don’t keep using them.’

Shapiro does not focus solely on what the jewelry means to her, but also on what it means to her customers.

‘Every piece is so different and customized, that’s what makes it so appealing,’ Kim Couri, a sophomore finance, accounting and public relations major said. ‘It’s focused more on fitting someone’s personality rather than the general, mass-produced stuff.’

As far as the business aspect goes, Shapiro is ready for anything. Her Web site launch has already sparked an increase in business, but the love for what she creates remains the focus.

‘I think that general the quality of jewelry has gone down, and it’s my mission to try to bring it back as more of a craft,’ Shapiro said. ‘I could do this for the rest of my life and be the happiest person.’

Shapiro has a show planned at her sorority, Alpha Phi, on Nov. 15. The show is a part of the sorority’s philanthropy efforts, and 10 percent of her jewelry sales will go to charity.

‘Emilie has a creative mind along with a business mind, and with her confidence and attitude, she’ll prosper,’ Couri said. ‘Jewelry will always be around, everyone will want it and Emilie will keep making it.’

For more information, visit Emiliedesigns.com.

Published on October 17, 2006 at 12:00 pm