Meet the Designer: Sarah Killen
MOTHER NATURE Sarah and her daughter Rowan last year in their garden in the Irish Channel. Photo: Hannah McSwain (@hannahpickle)
A lover of stories, Saint Claude designer Sarah Killen creates jewelry from objects that have already carved at least one path, including European antiques and exo skeletons. She then encourages customers to start a new journey with them, taking her jewelry wherever they go. However, this story is about the Queen of Cool herself.
With a husband who is a musician in the band Galactic, Ben Ellman, Sarah's had her fair share of once in a lifetime experiences, but watching her husband backstage at Jazz Fest is a regular occurrence. While Sarah, Ben, and their daughter Rowan reside in the Irish Channel, she began her company after a different part of town. Sarah named Saint Claude after the Bywater street of her first studio and has been a jewelry designer in New Orleans for over 10 years. Throughout her collections, Sarah’s jewelry carries the themes of repurpose and renewal. Her silver and brass designs stem from items that have had many lives, and thus her adornments become timeless. Her pieces reflect a balance of boldness, femininity, delicacy, and strength.
Want to learn more about Saint Claude? We're talking with Sarah about . . .
Check out some of our clothes in her Summer 2016 Look Book!
Floral Finds
SHOW YOUR STRIPES "Wear the things that make you feel good. It's contagious."
The continuous floral and botanical motifs in Sarah's work don't go unnoticed. In fact, it's her signature nod to Mother Nature's designs that we love so much. In her latest collection, Goddess, Sarah focuses on a shorter neckline that accentuates the collar- and breastbones with its simple wire and pendants. She explains, "The Goddess collection was my version of the resurgence of the '90s choker. I couldn't go back to that but found this version to be more sophisticated and yet youthful. I have had all of these florals that I wanted to incorporate, and this seemed like the perfect match."
Model wears Ace & Jig Pacific Pant in Blue Jean and Saint Claude Sea Urchin Spine Pendant, Spider Crab, and Barnacle Ring.
Fireside Chat
While Saint Claude jewelry is designed and made in New Orleans, the Fireside collection actually draws inspiration from an antique store in Baton Rouge, Fireside Antiques. The Roland family opened and has owned the antique store for three generations. Laura, Sarah’s friend, and her mother Susan travel to Europe, particularly France; Italy; and England, to hand select pieces from the 18th to 20th centuries that will travel to the United States in 40-foot long crates. These antiques have traveled the world more than some people will in their lifetimes, and it's their rich histories that make visiting Fireside Antiques a treasure hunt.
Once Sarah finds ornaments she likes, she then applies the details of 18th and 19th century antique furniture to her designs. Sarah explains, "The process starts with finding a piece that I can visualize and see jewelry in there. Next, I make a mold and then work in the wax to create it. Usually, this involves trimming and cutting the original down or even taking one flower from this and one flower from that and putting them together. I'm constantly taking older versions of things and revisiting it. Maybe I see something I didn't before, and the original is always preserved for that reason."
The Roland family influences more than just the Fireside collection though. After a trip to the family’s house in St. Francisville, La., Sarah created a series of pieces named the Roland Gumball, including a necklace and a ring, from sweetgum trees in their backyard.
While Sarah's designs are a testament to her artistic abilities, she remembers that her company didn't get to its current state all by herself: "I am here today only because of friends and family. Everyone knows I collect obscure things and bring things back to me from their travels. One of the future collections was brought back from the Sahara desert and travelled 3 continents to get to me. My friend actually made a map of them so I could see where they all had been . . . That's friendship, my friends."
I don't really seek inspiration. I think it's something that can't be forced, which is inconvenient sometimes, but I think allows things to be more authentic. I just try to keep my eyes open and wait for a gift to come along, and usually it does.
Loup Chloe Pants in Rose.
Personal Favorites
Ace & Jig Pacific Pant in Blue Jean.
What's your favorite part of New Orleans?
"My favorite part of New Orleans is my block—having a three year-old who has lived in the Irish Channel all her life, the fact her first word was Aaaaa (a very New Orleans 'Hey!') in diapers and yelling to every person who passes our house, the fact that everyone answers her back and they all know her by name. It's what New Orleans is all about: community. We are all in this crazy thing together, but despite all that is wrong in the world, that kid is spreading love every day, making someone smile because they are important to her and she wants to acknowledge them."
What's your favorite piece from your collections?
"My favorite piece is probably the Washington Okra and the Wonder Woman Cuff. I also love the Exo Cuff and the Grecian Open Collar. Oh, I can't decide; clearly I like them all!"
Do you have any styling tips for customers?
"Wear the things that make you feel good. It's contagious. I love to make pieces that people connect to . . . are drawn to. I'm not trying to be trendy. I want it to be something that will stick with you. It helps tell a story about you or the place you love or a moment you had. I'm all about the story and everyone has one."
Photos: Hannah McSwain (@hannahpickle) from the Saint Claude Summer 2016 and California Dreaming Lookbooks.