People
“L’époque”: era of chokers
L’Еpoque choker. Photo © L’Еpoque
L’Еpoque choker. Photo © L’Еpoque
L’Еpoque choker. Photo © L’Еpoque
L’Еpoque choker. Photo © L’Еpoque
L’Еpoque choker. Photo © L’Еpoque
L’Еpoque choker. Photo © L’Еpoque
Feminine chokers “L’époque” have Russian soul, French aesthetics and beautiful female names. Tatyana Zhabbarova created her choker brand “L’époque” since she is sure this accessory has already become classics.
Could you please tell us about your brand? How did you come up with its name?
– L’époque stands for epoch in French. I love the very essence of its meaning; epoch is a long period of time full of significant and promising events. Like the Renaissance era in art or the Big Bang in cosmology. Fortunately, the agony of choosing blew over me; it was just on my mind. That’s why everything happened so quickly, and I didn’t hesitate even for a minute. Why the French name? I feel as close to French culture as I do to Russian one. Impetuosity of a Russian soul coupled with a French affection for life and beauty completely expresses my idea of female individuality.
Why did you decide to make chokers in particular?
– I know for sure that all great life events are impossible to plan or figure out in advance. They just happen. I’ve been working as a psychologist for a long time, as a result I communicate with hundreds of people. And the main reason of their visit to me is love in one way or another. Love in its different manifestations. You know how beautiful faces of people in love are: they look dreamy and closed off at the same time. One way or another we inevitably come to creativity after having let other peoples emotions pass through us. Designing chokers and other jewelry has become my creativity of choice. One night I just picked up a pencil and started to draw. The idea had taken shape and then everything began to develop so quickly. Today, looking back and realizing the huge amount of work that has been done, I’m proud of my jewelry collections to be presented in leading trade houses of Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
Where is your jewelry made? Who creates the designs? What does the process begin with?
– All pieces of jewelry are made in Moscow. It’s a process demanding constant monitoring. Remote production isn’t suitable for me. I have to stay up to date during each step of jewelry production. I start with a pencil sketch of choker, and then I select the material it will be made of. Each pendant for chokers is also drawn by me; sketches are then used as templates when chokers are created at the factory exclusively for “L’époque” brand. Our choker is always built from little bits: one specialist works with velvet, another – with lace and the third one works with the geometry of jewelry fitting. I sew down pearls and all other details on chokers myself. Then every choker is given a female name, that’s the way it gets a life.
What materials do you use while creating your designs?
– “L’époque” chokers are created using only genuine materials like velvet, lace, silver and sea pearls. Otherwise it would have no sense. I fancy that my all my creations have unique quality and designs. It’s a question of reputation, I’m proud of deserve approval of my clients.
Choker is a jewelry which is popular again as a part of 90s fashion trend. What do you think, how long this accessory will be in trend?
– I like that modern fashion gives us a free hand for self expression. Limits are blurred out and it’s amazing. We are only up to follow our personal style and change as much as we wish. It’s like traveling trough time: during just one day we can easily move from one era to another. Choker is a timeless jewelry, it has regained its popularity so many times that I think it now deserves a right to be called a classic jewelry. Quality is the only thing that matters. That’s why I prefer to design it like a piece of jewelry.
How do you recommend wearing “L’epoque” chokers?
– There are more than 20 chokers in my collection: classical as well as and evening designs. There are also laid back chokers suitable for daytime. We have got nude chokers light as a feather that are practically undistinguishable on skin. It looks beautiful and unique, but delicate at the same time. I recommend to wear some chokers with low cut dresses, others – with warm chunky knittings. “L’epoque” chokers can even match a turtle neck. There are no strict rules what to wear chokers with; it’s a sensual accessary, that’s why each woman makes her instinctive and personal choice. And she is always right.
Interview: Rimma Ismagilova
