French jewellery company has designs on mainland expansion
Partners may have contrasting styles, but their pieces are at one with the customer
Corina Larpin was at a party, wearing a large flower-shaped ring set with blue sapphires, a piece she made and gave to herself as a birthday gift. A woman came up to her and offered to buy it.
"I told her she couldn't have it because I had already worn it. I said I'd make another one for her," Larpin says. But the woman insisted and wrote a cheque. The ring was sold.
Romanian-born Larpin is one-half of Stefere, a French jewellery company started in 2005 by jewellery designer Stephanie Rehault. Larpin met Rehault at a party and became her client. Six years ago, they became partners.
Rehault is younger and more conservative than Larpin, who has more of a rocker chic. The duo believe they offer a wide variety of jewellery to customers.
"We are very different, but we complement each other. We exchange ideas and build a collection together. It can take weeks to complete," says Larpin. "But recently we were able to create a collection in three days. She [Rehault] understands my craziness, but we both have to like the design."
