A designer’s collection may be rooted in a trip to India, a visit to the Met, a movie theater, bookstore or a subconscious dream. Wherever the theme originates from, the application of its inspiration is an important part of the creative process. A mood (or inspiration) board usually plays a key role. For CFDA jewelry designer and New York native Pamela Love, her brand’s extensive collection of mood boards has now come together in her first book, “Pamela Love: Muses and Manifestations,” published by Rizzoli.
The book provides an insider view into her award-winning designs. Photos and objects from Love’s most memorable trips and her favorite Francesco Clemente paintings (for whom she formerly assisted) are paired with her most famous jewelry pieces— paying homage to the people, places and objects that inspire her.
Love celebrated the launch with a book signing at Rizzoli’s Flatiron store last Thursday. In true Pamela Love-style, tarot card and palm readers were available for the crowd that included Chris Peters and Shane Gabier of Creatures of the Wind, Nomia’s Yara Flinn, Tomoko Ogura of Barneys New York, Ileana Makri and Francesco Clemente
Here, Love spoke to CFDA.com about her greatest muse, high school New Year’s resolutions and her fondest memories and objects that fill her book.
CFDA.com: Where did the title “Muses and Manifestations” come from?
Pamela Love: “My husband came up with it actually. We were looking for a subtitle that illustrated what the book is about – exploring the journey from inspiration to final product. He’s very good with words.”
CFDA.com: What inspirations and ideas help you most in the manifestation of your designs?
P.L.: “Travel – seeing the world, experiencing different cultures and their art, architecture, rituals and stories.”
CFDA.com: Who is one of your greatest muses?
P.L.: “My grandmother Rose. She was such a style icon and a huge collector of mid-century art jewelry.”
CFDA.com: What is your most prized object included in the book?
P.L.: “Probably the little collage I made in college with photos of both of my grandpas.”
CFDA.com: A page in the book features your new year’s resolutions from your senior year of high school. What resolutions or new ventures, are you still looking to explore/fulfill?
P.L.: “Taking better care of my health – what I eat, getting more sleep, exercise.”
CFDA.com: Memories and past experiences are a large part of your inspiration and fill the pages of your book. Since creating the Pamela Love brand, what have been some of your top memories that have stayed with you the most?
P.L.: “Winning the CFDA Swarovski Award for Accessory Design and winning runner-up for the CVFA/Vogue Fashion Fund are two of my happiest memories and accomplishments that I am most proud of.
Traveling to Suriname for the first time to help with their sustainable gold mining initiative was an amazing experience I will never forget as well. There are so many memories; it’s hard to pick just one.”
Pamela Love
