NEW YORK – Maria Glezelli, is a Greek jewelry designer and founder of her own jewelry brand, focusing on completely handmade and sustainable jewelry with the purpose of empowering women to be proud of their origins. She runs a zero waste business and her biggest secret is that all pieces are entirely made by hand, out of a single line of wire, without the use of any machinery. Glezelli spoke with The National Herald about her work and participating in a pop-up December 10-January 3 at the Refinery Hotel, 63 West 38th Street in Manhattan.

TNH: Tell us a bit about yourself, where in Greece are you from and where did you grow up?

Maria Glezelli: I grew up and lived in Athens for most of my childhood. I was curious and passionate about painting and crafting from an early age; at the same time the unravelling panorama of the Athenian history was constantly feeding me with inspiration and nurtured my love for ancestral craftsmanship.

When I was 5 years old, I realized that I wanted to become an artist. I used to spend hours learning new crafts, drawing and creating all sorts of things from decorations to gifts. Later, a special person, my grandmother, taught me how to knit and that memory has always accompanied me throughout my journey.

TNH: Did you always want to design jewelry?

MG: When I grew up, I knew that a career in fine art was a clear choice for me. However, while I was studying at the university of fine arts, I reached the point where I wasn’t sure of what direction to follow. I started experimenting with different materials and techniques and after a lot of research I decided that I would explore the intersection between art and fashion. My graduate project was a series of wearable costumes and body adornments in an effort to revive historic periods through time. I continued working on a bigger scale when I realized that there was a lot of demand in the jewelry sector. The knitting technique I had developed until that moment was very uncommon and different from the jewelry methods that were popular in the market and I had a lot of people requesting bespoke jewelry made with my technique. That was the first time I started making jewelry and I gradually moved from the large to the small scale.

TNH: How did you get involved in the pop-up taking place Dec. 10-Jan. 3?

MG: I have recently started a collaboration with the agency Style Hunter Milano that promotes craftsmanship and emerging designers. When I came across the opportunity to showcase my work in New York, I felt excited. A lot of my clients are based in the U.S. so I thought that it would be a nice opportunity for people to be able to see my work in a physical space.

TNH: What inspires you most in your designs?

MG: The brand Maria Glezelli was born out of my desire to preserve tradition and remind people to always be proud of their origins.

When you come across a handicraft – that has been used or created by one of your ancestors – you don’t just see a tangible piece; you see the years and feel their hands, you preserve a moment of their lifetime. And that’s the philosophy I hope to revive.

My strongest influence has been ancient history and mythology. I enjoy reading a lot about ancient civilizations and especially about important moments in time. There are also places that hold a very special place in my heart and they are often the spark to create a collection.

TNH: How long do most of your pieces take from idea to realization?

MG: Each piece is brought to life after hours of meticulous labour and is entirely unique and un-replicable as the patterns that the silver wire traces are always singular and exclusive. It is a time-consuming process, however working entirely with my hands allows me to create a slow made, high-quality piece of jewelry, that’s not been tainted by any machines.

TNH: What are you working on next?

MG: One of my biggest dreams was to create a business along the lines of a couture house, where I would be able to design different body adornments made with my signature technique.

I am currently working on some new innovative pieces that will be part of my new collection. My future plans also include the development of a body accessories exclusive collection for those who would enjoy extravagant pieces made on a bigger scale.

More information is available online: www.mariaglezelli.com.