Fan Club: Shaesby Scott

Suzanne Kalan lauds the minimalist, flowing designs of Shaesby Scott.

BY BETH BERNSTEIN

Published in the July-August 2012 issue

Louisiana-born Shaesby Scott’s appreciation of fine art began at an early age thanks to his mother, a prolific painter and printmaker. He opened his first studio designing furniture and sculptures while still in college, learning how to manipulate metal. But it wasn’t until he was living in Rio de Janeiro that Scott discovered his affinity for jewelry. He embraced the Brazilian custom of adorning the body with art. He describes his collection, launched in 2001, as “distilling what is found in nature into a wearable, comfortable piece of jewelry. My work does not truly come to life until worn.” Scott has expanded his line to include his original 14K and 18K gold collections with gemstones, a more tribal looking silver line sometimes accented by gold, and a bridal group of engagement and wedding rings, all translated with his streamlined yet textural sensibility.

SUZANNE KALAN ON SHAESBY

• I met Shaesby many years ago in Los Angeles during market week; we were represented by the same showroom. He was down to earth, calm and easy to talk to. I loved that he was always smiling. He seemed like a good soul.”
• “His collection was very minimal in its aesthetic, which I admired. He allowed the shapes and colors of the stones to speak for themselves. The line was very small, however, so I wondered if it would make a strong enough presentation to catch the interest of the buyers. And it did.”
• “The next times I saw him, we did JCK and then Couture. Over the years, his collection has become a true representation of both who he is and the woman he is designing for: light, easy, making a subtle statement that is never overwhelming.”
• “The designs have a clean, flowing look, and I think he has a true understanding of what women want to wear and feel good in. I also love the way he has grown and branched out into different categories over the years, such as a complete sterling collection and a bridal collection.”
• “I saw his line in one of the best department stores in Japan and felt kind of proud to know that I met him when he had just started. He’s gone so far. 

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SUZANNE KALAN: Jewelry designing became Suzanne’s passion after her first child was born; she made her dreams a reality when her husband Paul encouraged her to start their own company, Kalan, in 1988. Suzanne and Paul had been involved in the jewelry business since they were teenagers — Suzanne in retail, working in her father’s Los Angeles-based store, and Paul in manufacturing. Eight years ago, they relaunched the company as Suzanne Kalan, which showcases her love for gemstones and mastery of color combinations.