After a bachelor's degree in Industrial Design in 2007, and a little existential questioning, I needed a change.

A big one.

So after nearly 20 years of long hair, I decided to chop it off into an unconventional retro bowl cut. Knowing that a touch of femininity would be lost together with my long locks, I turned to the era of awesome short dos with women who knew how to pull them off, the 1960s... More precisely, I was struck by Andy Warhol's muse, Edie Sedgwick's amazing style. Extra large statement jewelry and bold make-up seemed to do the trick so off I went looking for a way to mimic a pair of Edie's earrings which although they were not made of lace, reminded me of fabric. And that is how it all started...
A stroke of genius, as I soon realized that lace is to textiles what gold is to metals and diamonds to rocks and that nothing beats lightweight statement earrings!

Today, the hair has grown again but the passion for statement pieces never fades. This Ilk was born in late 2008 and has come a long way since. With help from believers in my art at various stages along the way, This Ilk has managed to become my life and full time job.

Working alone in my Montreal studio I developed my own techniques. Cutting, dyeing, treating the lace so it doesn't fall apart, stiffening it strategically and precisely for structure, painting and assembling the various jewelry pieces, are all part of the process. I do not cut any corners as good design and quality are what counts. Another part of the challenge is seeking out the lace, that will inspire new pieces or fit my designs, from a variety of sources (mostly vintage). Always rethinking the definition of jewelry itself, the idea of body jewelry was born when I inadvertently placed a necklace on my shoulder. Skirting the fine line between jewelry and clothing, leggings and a dress also became part of the collection.

Finally, as design at large is my passion, the packaging as well as promotional photography also have my personal touch. In addition to all these aspects of the business, collaborating on photo shoots always makes me happy. Seeing what other artists do with my art is inspiring and motivating...

This Ilk has been featured in various magazines as well as at Montreal's Fashion week and festival. It also won a spot on the "Who's Next" trade show in Paris as well as a large grant with Incognito ( a local company) and Elle Quebec to enable me to expand my business.

By the way... "ilk" means a "type" or "kind"...