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photography by GILLIAN GARCIA
written by AMELIA FLEETWOOD
Buhai, wearing pieces from her new namesake collection.
MAPPLETHORPE CUFF $1,200 sophiebuhai.com LONG QUARTZ DROP EARRINGS $945 sophiebuhai.com
AFTER 10 YEARS
of living in New York City and spending time at an artist’s residency in Italy, where she dreamed up her jewelry collection, designer Sophie Buhai has relocated to her native Los Angeles. She bought a house in Silver Lake and transformed it into a striking home, garden, and studio. While appointing her new space, she “became captivated by the L.A. lifestyle” all over again—and realized that passion into an extension of her brand. She started designing interiors for friends, which progressed into creating interiors and objects, in addition to jewelry.
WILKE CUFF $1,750 sophiebuhai.com
Buhai often looks to other artists for inspiration for her sculptural jewelry.
Always drawn to pure sterling silver, Buhai’s covetable collection is minimalist and modern with an earthy twist. “I tapped into the strong silver heritage of the West, including both the Native American and Mexican traditions. I feel very connected to this history,” she says. Using visionary jewelry designers as inspiration—she cites Robert Lee Morris, Elsa Peretti, Art Smith, Betty Cook, and William Spratling, to name a few—Buhai takes that craftsmanship to a modern place. “Some- times the vintage shapes are a bit outdated,” she explains. “I wanted to see a new take on them—and I did just that.”
SHERRY EARRINGS $325 sophiebuhai.com BALL RING $420 sophiebuhai.com ONE-OF-A-KIND DISH The Window
I’M REALLY CLOSER TO MAKING OBJECTS THAN I AM TO FASHION.—sophie buhai
what inspires me…
- FEMALE ARTISTS Louise Bourgeois, Eva Hesse, Barbara Hepworth and Hannah Wilke.
- L.A. ARCHITECTUREL. A.’s art deco and early modernist architecture. Swimming pools.
- GREEK ISLANDS The deep blues and contrasting whites of Crete and Santorini.
- CALIFORNIA’S COAST Road trips. Beach days. The Hollywood Farmer’s Market and Rose Bowl Flea Market.
Various Barbara Hepworth, and Lucien Clergue books. Buhai is inspired by photography and sculpture.
A moodboard in Buhai’s studio, featuring a rotating selection of people, places, and artworks.