Australian jewellery designer Ele Miško has her studios nestled in Melbourne’s iconic Manchester Unity Building. The Art Deco style building was built in the 1930s. It encompasses twelve floors predominately occupied by jewelers. MIŠKO is the only female and youngest jewelry business in the building and it has become the perfect backdrop to compliment her contemporary, architectural style jewelry. The collections embody unique geometric designs, featuring precious metals and stones. Her most recent collection Mado Mado, draws on experiences and design from her recent travels to Japan. MIŠKO’s pieces have been featured in many influential fashion magazines around the world including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle to name a few.
Describe your typical work day: Every day is different, which makes it so interesting. Generally, it will involve some jewelry makings, designing, meeting with clients, and sourcing materials around the Melbourne Jewelry Trade buildings.
You lived and worked in both Paris and Berlin, tell us how these two cities have inspired and influenced your design and work ethic today: Both two big international cities rich in history, design, and art. The creative communities across all of these major cities is really linked so, everyone knew each other in design, art, music, fashion, etc. We were always supporting each other’s creativity and thus being constantly influenced and evolving. All of these immersive elements contributed to my aesthetic and ideas today.
Your architectural style is distinctive and instantly recognizable, who or what are your influences? I love architectural structures shapes and elements. I feel that jewelry is like architecture for the body. But also, everything around me. I’m constantly taking pictures on my phone of nature, furniture, design objects, art, textures, patterns, experiences – it’s everywhere!
You have designed some non-traditional wedding and engagement rings for clients which means you are involved at a critical time in their lives – how does that effect the design process? It’s always such a beautiful process to be a part of other people’s love stories. They are at a point where they are completely in love and so it’s very exciting. They come to me because they don’t wear traditional jewelry and they want something that will suit their style. They know and love my aesthetic, so most of the time it’s a really straight-forward process where I find out what their style is, what other jewelry they wear, and then I source gems for them to choose from and we come up with a design together. Sometimes, they will choose an existing design from the collection and ask for it in 18ct gold with diamonds. Next year, I will be creating a luxe range encompassing colored diamonds, for those with a taste for finer things.
ELE MISKO’S CHECKLIST:
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM CREATIVE COLLABORATIVE ENDEAVOR? I would love to be flown around the world and be invited to collaborate with people and companies that have inspired me and that I could learn from.
NAME YOUR POISON: Negroni
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: I don’t have a favorite, but if I only had one cuisine that I had to live off it would be Thai.
FAVOUITE CITY: Melbourne
IF YOU WERE TO DANCE LIKE NOBODY IS WATCHING WHAT WOULD BE THE SONG OF CHOICE: Cody Chesnutt & The Roots’ “The Seed.”
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT IN YOUR STUDIO? Japanese Green Tea
PROUDEST MOMENT: The opening of my first collection at Soho House in Berlin. I was so happy!
BEST ADVICE: Breathe. I’m a firm believer that meditation can solve everything!
To learn more, visit Ele Miško and follow on Instagram.
Australian abstract artist Boe Sapun is the founder and curator of Ecume Gallery. The Melbourne-based gallery represents both local, international, established, and emerging contemporary art.
The idea of having great art accessible to a broad audience prompted the online gallery showcasing her own work, as well as a diverse range and ever-growing list of talented contributing artists.
Boe‘s passion is in discovering creative minds and understanding the finer nuances of their character which influence their process, inspiration, and art. Follow Boe Sapun and Écume Gallery on Instagram and Facebook.
