This summer, Misahara jewelry designer Lepa Galeb-Roskopp has traveled all over Europe, from adventuring in Kolasin, Montenegro, to swimming in the Adriatic to exploring fashion and events in Porto Montenegro.
Wearing her signature fine jewelry with her favorite swimsuit or climbing canyons wasn’t necessarily something Galeb-Roskopp would have done in the past. But with her latest collections, Galeb-Roskopp says her thoughts on wearable design have shifted, thanks in part to her own lifestyle and that of her three children.
The result is a refreshed Misahara, taking Galeb-Roskopp’s many inspirations from nature to travel to family and giving them a casual cool in addition to her upscale and couture pieces. It’s an evolution that the designer says feels right, especially in the more relaxed world of 2022.
“In the last couple years, there has been a shift,” Galeb-Roskopp observes. “As the brand has grown, and our customer base increased, I’ve realized that wearability is a priority. Especially during these last few hard years our world has experienced with the pandemic and the other tribulations we’ve faced.”
Galeb-Roskopp was on holiday recently and says having jewelry that meets her needs as well as those of new generations is a growing priority.
“Through these trying years it’s clearer than ever that your time on this earth is limited and we need to enjoy every second. That means saying yes to adventures, trying new things, helping those less fortunate, and wearing and enjoying your jewelry,” she emphasizes with a laugh. “Wearability, telling a story through beautiful designs and craftsmanship are what I focus on when I design these days.
“I also don’t look at other jewelry brands or designs, so my creations are never influenced by others,” Galeb-Roskopp says. “I am authentic in who I am and what I create, knowing that I haven’t reinvented the wheel with our collections. I’m just turning my inspiration into wearable art.”
Some of her inspirations include her three children: Mara, Sara, and Harrison, whose names also combine to create Misahara. Her daughters, ages 25 and 20, are her “sounding boards,” Galeb-Roskopp says. What she’s learned from them? “Jewelry should be effortless and with you on your journey,” she says.
“I like their younger generation’s point of view,” Galeb-Roskopp says. “In life, you have to adjust and pivot all the time. Families pivot with change, businesses pivot, relationships pivot. Now, let’s translate that into jewelry.”
For Galeb-Roskopp, that means her jewelry should be able to be worn day and night, in the water or wherever you spend your time.
“Let’s say you go to yoga with your anklet on, and then you come home shower and head to work in high heels, or out to run errands in tennis shoes, that anklet looks amazing through all these situations,” she says. “As well, at a more granular level, the pieces I create adjust with your body.”
For example, her newest necklaces from the Chain City collection “literally move with you as your collarbone shifts and you turn your head,” Galeb-Roskopp says. There are also her minis and initial necklaces, which are more dainty and create a modern look that you can see all over her social media. Misahara’s Mosaic Ice Re-Imagined also brings a clean summery style to her more upscale pieces.
“The Ice Linked ring is made with a princess-cut diamond suspended by two chains to hug your finger perfectly,” Galeb-Roskopp says. “All of our chain link bracelets have a slider clasp that allows the wearer to adjust the size to fit their wrist exactly, so it’s worn with ease. Every body is different, and having these adjustable features to our newest pieces makes every client feel like Cinderella. The glass slipper always fits.”
Top: Misahara jewelry designer Lepa Galeb-Roskopp, shown here jumping into the Adriatic, says her love of fine jewelry hasn’t changed, but her personal lifestyle and that of her customers certainly has, and she wants her newest jewelry collections like Chain City to reflect that (photos courtesy of Misahara).
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