Danielle Birrittella born in an Ashram in India to American entrepreneur parents was named after Hindu Deity Mahaskahti. Influenced by the ritual of adornment and its contribution to cultural history, Danielle studied jewellery tradition in Turkey, Italy, India and Latin America. A frequent visitor to India her designs are more inspired by Indian culture and Art.
1. You were aYou are a singer, actress and collaborative artist. Then how you have become a jewellery designer. What inspired you to become a designer?
I became a designer very organically. I just graduated from college and was living in New York that year, training as an opera singer and working many jobs to support myself. I wanted to buy my best friend a necklace for her birthday, but I couldn’t afford the one I wanted to get her, so I tried to make it myself and it turned out beautifully. From there, I started making more pieces, all one of a kind, and within a few months I wasn’t working all of those other jobs anymore. Of course, its been a lot of hard work, but the initial inspiration was effortless.
Danielle Birritella’s jewellery
2. You were born in an ashram in India and given the name Mahaskhakti, after Hindu deity. Tell us more about your involvement with Hindi philosophy and how it has influenced in jewellery designing?
My parents met in a Hindu ashram in the US and spent a lot of time living in India thereafter. I was born the year our guru died and given the name Mahashakti. We went to India for his Samadhi when I was just six months old. Being exposed to that culture was a massive gift to me and one that influences my life everyday – spiritually, philosophically, and aesthetically.
3. What inspired your brand “Ella Poe”?
The namesake of my brand is both of my parents’ last names. Birritella is Sicilian and I used the end of that as it was a nickname growing up. Poe is my mom’s last name.
4. What materials and technique do you favour?
I love fine jewelry. I love gold. If I could design only in 22 Karat, I would. Unfortunately, being a designer requires you to be both an entrepreneur and an artist. We have to find that balance. I love pink and yellow diamonds right now. I love texture. I’m finding ways of making things feel lush and meaningful, but I also want my customers to be able to wear my designs. In the future, I think I’ll be able to do more elaborate fine jewelry, while also keeping a fresh interpretation on classic design that we always come back to.
5. Does your background as an actress, singer influence your designs?
Good question! I’m sure that music influences my designs. The fluidity of it and the way it moves, or the way we experience it moving. As a performer, one who gives voice to words, language is very important to me. I use a lot of words in my pieces in the design process.. sometimes they don’t show up in the final product, but they inform what the piece is trying to communicate.
Danielle Birritella as a actor
6. What is your jewellery philosophy?
My philosophy is that adornment is a ritual and that beauty should not exist for beauty’s sake. Beauty comes from meaning and from history and from knowledge. I don’t like making or wearing pieces that feel disposable. I want my work to carry stories and secrets that the wearer can choose to share or keep for themself.
7.What sets Ella Poe apart from other jewellery lines?
Ella Poe is ever evolving, like most things are. I think what sets it apart is that my pieces are always communicating something and usually in the most subtle way possible. I won’t design a piece for the sake of the design itself; it must have a story, otherwise it doesn’t interest me. Also, I only design pieces with a specific person in mind. I imagine them wearing it and how it will fit on their body or feel in their hand. The tactile nature of it is so important.
8.What are your future plans?
I’m in the middle of designing two new lines, which I am very excited about. At least one of them will be on my site, www.ellapoe.com, in February. This is going to be a big year for us.
9.Tell us about your Indian connection?
India is always number one on my travel list. It’s just about finding the time to go! My dad is about to go back to India for his 62th birthday in February. I was just begging him to take me along, but I think I might go on the next trip! I know how quickly the country is changing and I really want to get back there to explore. I love the absolute richness of the culture and how spirituality and aesthetics are so beautifully intertwined. I love how much history India has and envy its ancient legacy.
