A piece of jewelry must have the versatility to be worn with anything, from a simple white
t-shirt to a formal evening ensemble. This is how Ivi Kyratzi, the Cypriot founder and creative director of IVI, interprets the way her jewels should be enjoyed. Her collections also find sensuality in contradictions - contemporary or classic, masculine or feminine, symmetrical or uneven, young or old - bridging the gap between all the possibilities, allowing the wearer to be free to style without rules.
Interestingly, Kyratzi is also rewriting the codes of contemporary jewelry making. Years before, she noticed a big gap in the market for affordable high quality jewelry. Growing up in the fashion world and also being a consumer of many fashion brands (Kyratzi’s parents are in the luxury fashion business), she felt that the space of accessible luxury jewelry was often limited. “It was either the quality did not meet the price, or the price was so prohibitively high. While the ‘high-end’ jewelry space is very much clustered, I wanted to give focus on the uncharted space where you have high-quality with an accessible price,” she explains.
This led her to partner with Gabriele Veneri, one of the jewelry industry’s most prolific manufacturers (Gabriele’s father Carlo Veneri was one of the most important figures in developing luxury metal accessories in the Italian province of Arezzo). Kyratzi reveals that Gabriele became a key figure in the development of the IVI brand. “He was the first one who believed in me as a creative and provided me with the resources to express myself through jewelry creations. We bonded instantly over a strong synergy and a shared mission to create a contemporary jewelry brand with a relentless drive to be at the forefront of sustainability, quality, and creativity.”
As a result, every IVI piece is proudly made in Italy since it was launched in 2016. For the first four years, Kyratzi spent much of her time in Veneri’s workshop cutting her teeth in the painstaking and intricate craft of high-end jewelry making. This allowed her to learn the language of the trade and become an expert in the field. Today, IVI passes through a rigorous twelve step process, meaning one piece of jewelry literally goes through the hands of a dozen individuals, each specialized in a specific craft, by the time of its completion.
However, the creative process of designing a collection is Kyratzi’s first step. “I always start with a mood board of imagery from other artists that I am drawn to. This leads to the development of the concept. The actual pieces are born from a space of absolute freedom. As soon as we capture the design direction then we dive into a deep conversation with our supply chain.” During the conceptual design process, Kyratzi invariably asks the following: ‘What do we want to learn from this collection? What do we want to say through it?’ She then works directly with the 3D designer to conceptualize the products, while putting great attention to producing less waste, finding ways to increase comfort for the wearer and ultimately making the product look beautiful.
Today, IVI has a wide range of price points; however, no compromise is made on quality and craftsmanship. While IVI has pieces that are pure 18 karat gold, it offers a fashion jewelry collection with gemstones and gold vermeil (925 sterling silver plated with 2.5-5 microns of pure gold) and pieces that are gold plated (925 sterling silver plated with 1-2 microns of pure gold). Otherwise, clients can select jewels in pure sterling silver plated in rhodium, which enhances the appearance and longevity of silver.
Thanks to the deep rooted partnership with her Italian workshop and committed production team that has stuck with her from the very start, Kyratzi is able to manage the business from across the Atlantic in Los Angeles where she permanently resides. The City of Angels clearly has captured her heart as she describes: “The energy of Los Angeles is special. There is something about the sun, the ocean’s breeze, and the people that makes you feel free and inspired. L.A. is culturally rich, especially in the field of arts: film, music, and now fashion. It is a city that is very ethnically diverse which exposes you to a multifaceted culture, which I find very intriguing.”
IVI offers a wide range of statement rings, bangles, earrings and chain necklaces, which take on an artful approach to everyday adorning – to be worn alone or stacked together. Kyratzi designs her pieces to be timeless and eternal; she eschews the latest jewelry fads that ultimately feel out of date after a while. Sustainability is also a core mission of IVI, as the jewels are made from mostly recycled gold and silver, including natural stones that are upcycled and repurposed. It’s no surprise Adele, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus and Salma Hayek are big fans of IVI.
In 2022, the first IVI concept store was launched in Nicosia, Kyratzi’s hometown, serving as a pilot for the brand. IVI is also sold with several luxury e-retailers and on www.ivi-official.com, its newly designed and beautifully curated website.
