You should be able to see the Spanish influence in Emily Armenta’s jewelry. But you should also be able to feel it. The Texas-based designer is influenced, more than anything, by the work of 20th-century Spanish poet-playwright Federico García Lorca and his idea of duende: “a power and not a behavior…the struggle that one must endure to create something of greatness.” Armenta has been creating her own totems of greatness for more than a decade—ornate oxidized silver and 18k gold pieces set with diamonds and richly colored gemstones. We can’t promise they’ll help you find your duende, but perhaps they’ll inspire you to try.
18k gold, oxidized silver, and diamond Old World earrings
Age: 42
Number of years in the biz: 11
Number of employees you oversee: There are just under 100 in the company, but I directly oversee an executive team of five.
Family and pets: My husband, Art; my daughter, Ridley; my son, Art Jr.; and an 18-year-old cat, Cezar
Cezar
Describe your personal style: Rugged and refined, bohemian chic
First piece you ever designed: A pair of gypsy side hoop earrings with beautiful jewels cascading down
The single piece of jewelry you’re most proud of: The wedding ring I designed for my sister, Tracy
Best piece of advice you ever received: “Your only limitation is your imagination and anything is possible if you want it bad enough.”
Old World ring with boulder opal mosaic
Worst piece of advice: Early on I was told to outsource all of our production to another country.
First job ever: At age 7, I went door to door selling my mother’s jewelry.
How did you get started designing jewelry? As a child I collected antique crystals and sketched jewelry in my mom’s art room in our house.
If you weren’t designing jewelry, what would you be doing? A journalist creating documentary films on social issues
Armenta’s stack
Favorite (or current favorite) gemstones: Australian opals filled with so many vibrant colors
How you’d describe your newest collection: Medieval elegance and the exploration of new materials
Jewelry you’re wearing right now: Jewelry that is layered up, with stack bangles, woven bracelets, chain-link bracelets, huggie cuffs, and leather wrap bracelets, and gold and black diamond hoop earrings.
Lennon: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
John Lennon
Five items on your desk right now: A special sketch pencil my mom gave me; my leather sketchbook my mom gave me; miscellaneous gemstones; a book on medieval art and a book on Alexander McQueen; and handbag prototypes
Five songs on your playlist: John Lennon’s “Imagine” and “Watching the Wheels”; “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess; Schindler’s List theme by John Williams; and “Por Una Cabeza” by Carlos Gardel
Exercise regimen: As often as possible; I like to mix it up with cardio, weights, yoga, and Pilates.
What did you have for breakfast? Oatmeal, coffee, and water
Guilty pleasure: Desserts
Drink (daytime/evening): Water by day, wine by night
First website you check every day (not your own!): Pinterest and Business of Fashion
Wireimage/Getty Images
Audrey Tautou
Scent: I lost my ability to smell as a young girl.
How do you unwind? Designing in my studio on a cloudy, rainy day
Favorite thing to do in Houston? Enjoying a beautiful dinner with my husband and close friends, sharing a delicious bottle of wine
Superstitious? Ghosts, my chair facing east, and no mirrors facing an entrance
Book you’re reading: Mastering the Rockefeller Habits
Book you’ve been meaning to get to: Leaving Van Gogh by Carol Wallace
One Lorca work everyone should read: Llanto por la muerte de Ignacio Sánchez Mejías (Weeping for the Death of Ignacio Sánchez Mejías)
Preferred news source: Squawk Box on CNBC
Favorite movie: Life Is Beautiful
Who would play you in your life story? Audrey Tautou
Personal motto: “Never, never, never give up.”