Unstoppable Jewelry Designer Meredith Kahn Dreams Up a Warrior Gypsy Collection

By Suzanne Singer
November 12, 2010

Jewelry designer Meredith Kahn launched her line, Made Her Think, in 2004. Her cutting edge jewelry designs mix punk-inspired heavy metal, chains and studs with feminine detailing and the occasional spray of diamonds. Meredith Kahn, who is well-versed in the style history of bygone eras (her inspirations range from Art Deco to Steampunk), is also skilled at infusing traditional, time-worn jewelry styles with a thoroughly modern twist.

With a fine jewelry collection, a more affordable costume jewelry line and a collaboration with Club Monaco that is going on now (not to mention a belt and leather handbag line and a men’s jewelry collection), Kahn's design dance card is full, although she still succeeds at making each piece she creates unique. "My goal with each piece is to give people something with meaning, something to cherish, and something to pass on. It can hold memories and last forever," she said. (Left: Meredith Kahn)

The Inside Source spoke with the unstoppable jewelry designer Meredith Kahn.

The Inside Source: What draws you to jewelry design?

Meredith Kahn: I love most any element of design. I think jewelry ended up in my lap because of the sentiment. Jewelry is forever. Metal is forever. Stones are so emotional and have their own meanings and then partner with metals, light and a person and create new meanings. I think of all the things I can design, jewelry is sort of like my form of poetry.

The Inside Source: Do you have a personal philosophy on jewelry?

Meredith Kahn: Always give it away or pass it along at some point in your life.

The Inside Source: What made you decide to become a jewelry designer and start your the Made Her Think jewelry line?

Meredith Kahn: I always say that jewelry chose me. I was working in the clothing end of design and realized that if I wanted to really launch my own line, then I would need a lot of capital and a lot of space. My apartment was teeny and the money was... Well, there wasn’t any. I was making jewelry as a hobby and selling it to friends and stylists around the city and a little light bulb went off that I could sort of just launch jewelry. I had a few big magazines write stories on it and the rest is now history. Hopefully, the clothing will follow later on down the road.

The Inside Source: You are a native New Yorker. How does that affect your jewelry design ideas?

Meredith Kahn: I think being here, you are exposed to a certain energy and to change that energy, you have to leave and travel to other places. I love New York and I love the city. I spend a lot of time here and love what it brings to my collections. I think a lot of the history influences the line. Old New York, John and Yoko, the park, the museums, Allen Ginsberg, Steiglitz, Okeefee, the parties. The fact that everyone has come here and started something is where the energy comes from and I think that is what adheres to the collections.

Made Her Think

Made Her Think Jewelry

The Inside Source: Do you have a specific time period that inspires your designer jewelry collections?

Meredith Kahn: I would have to say I really do love them all. All the way up to the one that's happening right now. I think the one that never fails to melt my heart is the Victorian Era. So much soul in what was made. We don’t get that as much these days.

The Inside Source: I know you have a young daughter, does she play a part in your creative process?

Meredith Kahn: She inspires me every day. She is my future. She is my husband. She is us all together. She is really everything. She pushes me to be always at my best. She becomes sort of like a mirror because you always want to be the best you when have a child. That "push" becomes my drive and that affects everything that I do, including how I run my business and how I develop each new collection.

The Inside Source: What is your design process? How do you come up with a new collection for each season?

Meredith Kahn: I do most designing at night, right as I’m closing my eyes to go to sleep. It’s the moment that I can clear my head and open up my mind. I dream up a lot of them too. I see them so perfectly and get sad that they aren’t mine...then I wake up and realize it was my dream and they are all mine! A lot of the pieces also give birth to one another. I like to take a nice signature style that has performed and see where else I can take it. I also like to take something that didn’t do very well and challenge it to make it better and give it another chance. I don’t always begin with a theme. I sometimes begin with a shape I love and then make it big, small, plain, embellished, etc. I design all the way up to when someone tells me I have to stop. It’s like when you are taking a timed test and the teacher says, "pens down." I always hate it when I hear that!! I always have so much more to say.

The Inside Source: What made you decide to add handbags, belts and a men's jewelry line to Made Her Think?

Meredith Kahn: I think what people don’t know about me is that I’m not only interested in jewelry. Jewelry just happened to come first. I was designing leather bags and accessories before I began with jewelry. Made Her Think is the umbrella and all of the categories under it will soon all start to breathe. Handbags came second because I made a promise to myself that if the jewelry took off, I would start with the handbags at the five year mark. I’m scared now because I promised myself a clothing line at the ten year mark and I’m heading towards year seven! The men’s line was always sort of there, but we gave it a real home. I wanted to collaborate with my husband on something and I thought the men’s line would be perfect. It was a natural progression for Made Her Think, but to have him involved, helps give it a male perspective and with his input, its own specific style.

The Inside Source: What inspired you for your Fall 2010 collections of both jewelry and leather goods? What are the themes and trends?

Meredith Kahn: I don’t usually pay mind to the trends; I just sort of do what I feel and see where it lands. This season, it kind of fell into the lap of a Warrior Gypsy—metal-clad, traveling around on a mission.

The Inside Source: Do you shop on eBay? What do you like to search for?

Meredith Kahn: O goodness yes. In fact, I just got the iPad—a leathal weapon for the eBay user. Beware the eBay App. I search for everything! Rick Owens pants, rose cut diamonds, Victorian mourning jewelry and the list goes on.

The Inside Source: Do you have a favorite eBay purchase you'd like to share?

Meredith Kahn: Hmmm, probably my $35 vintage Pendleton jacket.

The Inside Source: Do you use eBay as a tool or as inspiration for your unique jewelry designs? Any favorite key search words that aid in your search, especially for this latest collection?

MK: I can’t tell you my key words for my search! Those are like gold. I use eBay to inspire and to purchase. I actually end up buying a lot of pewter table top for my home.

(images provided by Made Her Think)

While she won’t divulge her search key words, check out what Meredith’s vying for on eBay:

Georgian Antique 14K Rose Cut Diamond Ruby Ring

(buy it now price, $2,000)

“Totally in love with rose cut diamonds. They are harder to come by these days, but I love looking back to the antique ones because there is a roughness that is hard to find today.”
New Rick Owens Wax Women’s Jeans

(buy it now price, $174)

“I just bought myself a pair of these. I love love love Rick Owens and love collecting his pieces. A slight flair right at the hem of your jean is so great for fall to wear any kind of boot with.”
Gypsy Pendant Coin Necklace

(buy it now price $32.99)

“I did a big Gypsy statement for this upcoming collection and looked to a lot of Turkish and Indian jewelry for inspiration.”
Antique English 9K Gold Moonstone Ring

(buy it now price, $215)

"I’ve always been in love with moonstones, especially as a little girl. My birthstone is an opal, which has that pale blue-ish/white-ish tone. They are very delicate and tend to crack easily. Moonstone is the perfect answer to a more durable stone with the same dreamy feel. I cast stone shapes in resin this season in a beautiful moonstone color. Everyone thinks that they are real!!”
Antique Victorian 14K Enamel Mourning Pin

(buy it now price, $349)

“Mourning jewelry continues to be a source of inspiration for my jewelry. No matter what the theme is each season, I always look to Mourning Jewelry for the intricate and sentimental details.”
Vintage ‘80s Gold Metal Collar Choker Necklace

(buy it now price, $22.99)

“My mom wore so much jewelry in the ‘80s and I used to have try on parties in her closet and present little fashion shows to her all the time. I have such vivid memories of bold metal chokers and the beauty in the simplicity of it.”
Antique Sheffield Serving Spoon

(buy it now price, $13.25)

“I am really into my home and my table top. I collect a lot of serving pieces and find a lot of them on eBay. I’m really picky and they have to serve a purpose. I have an amazing peas spoon that I got on eBay and so even if I’m researching for a new collection, I always find myself buying something for my drawer!!”
Antique Pharmacist Chemist Beaker

(buy it now price, $49.99)

“I have tons of vases but they are usually more unique shapes and things that aren’t really meant to be a vase. I like making little clusters of bouquets around the house when I have a house guest or a dinner party. Mixing and matching beakers with mason jars and creamers is a great way to make the arrangements feel more personal.”