A personal reflection from founder, Erica Carlisle
Prior to ever sitting at a jeweler’s bench, I had already learned to appreciate the deeply personal meaning that jewelry carries, as my love for it began at a young age at home.
Growing up in New Jersey, I watched my father mark some of life’s most meaningful moments with jewelry. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays - no matter the occasion, he was always surprising my mother with something thoughtful and sparkly. I remember the look on her face every time he surprised her, and how in the following days (sometimes even months) the piece would rarely leave her hand or finger. It was never about the size or extravagance of the item, but instead the meaning, as well as thought and care he put into the gift.
When my father traveled for work, he’d return with small gifts for me too, a petite puffed heart with a tiny flush set diamond, a pair of white opal earrings with deco details, a gold brooch shaped like a painters palette with gemstones as the colors, large pendants with turquoise cabochons, bezel set in sterling silver. These early treasures became my first jewelry collection. I still have them, tucked away safely, each piece holding a memory.
That early appreciation for Jewelry grew into somewhat of a calling when I enrolled at Rhode Island School of Design in the Jewelry and Metalsmithing program. At RISD, there was a daily rhythm that shaped me: going to studio. Despite the fact that it was absolutely a requirement, for me it became a sanctuary. A place where the world softened and all that mattered was the intricate, hands-on process of making.
The act of sitting at a bench and shaping something so small, yet so filled with intention and emotion was something I found so peaceful and grounding. I sunk in to the slowness of the process, enjoying the intimacy of the detail in it. Studio slowly became a mindset to me, and not just a place.
After graduating, that ritual stayed with me. In each of my several Brooklyn apartments I always made sure to make space for a workbench, a room or a quiet corner where I could easily return to that same focus, and sense of calm.
Whenever I sat down to work, I’d always refer to it as going to studio.
So when it came time to name my company, it felt only right to honor that practice.
STVDIO, inspired by my favorite ritual, the art of slowing down, and the quiet act of making. It’s more than just a name, but a sentiment. It’s where meaningful jewelry begins.
