“We have always said the collection is a ‘synthesis of bold and fine.’ Each piece has a nice weight to it.”
And weight Walters Faith has in spades. Designer Mollie Faith Good, along with her business partner Stephanie Walters Abramow, are masters of artful conflation. Their collection features pieces that blend hard and soft, smoothness and depth. Of their design predilections, Good remarks, “We often juxtapose sterling silver and 18K rose gold. The combination gives each piece nice weight and character without losing its feminine aesthetic.” Indeed, their line straddles that masculine/feminine aesthetic for a look that feels powerful but uncompromising, unfussy in its elegance.
With this particular philosophy running as a constant thread in the Walters Faith line, certain themes naturally appear in the work: ID tags (most readily associated with the military) and thick chains (an eternal and universal symbol of strength). But Good and Abramow put a ladylike spin on both, elevating the form into something fresh. Their pendants, often layered together to form modern charms, are flat plates of precious metal crowned with diamonds. Their chain link rings are shiny and thick, peppered with gems in the most opportune places. Each piece feels worlds away from that which originally inspired it.
Reconfiguring the familiar is decidedly a part of what the brand does well. “We don’t like to over-design,” explains Good. “Chains can be so simple and beautiful. A chain can make its own statement–and be unique–by stretching the length of the link or giving a rectangular shape to each link, opposed to [using] the obvious oval shape.” It’s not about reinventing the wheel; it’s about taking existing shapes and maximizing their potential. Engraving, which is a feature Walters Faith offers on much of their jewelry, adds yet another unexpected alteration.
Every piece in the Walters Faith collection offers itself as a bit of everyday luxury. Together, Good and Abramow create jewelry that feels as ready for a casual lunch with friends as it does the red carpet of a movie premier. Carey Mulligan and Diane Kruger have been seen sporting Walters Faith, and their pieces make frequent cameos in glossies like Vogue and W Magazine. It all possesses a nonchalance that attracts women known for their confidence as well as their style.
Below, we talk to Good and Abramow about early influences, creative balance, and commemorating life’s most important moments with jewelry.
Can you describe your process in getting a piece from idea, to sketch, to final product?
Stephanie Walters Abramow: Everything starts on paper. Mollie sketches on everything from loose paperwork to a cocktail napkin; when an idea comes to her, she has to put it down. From there, she creates a technical drawing, which we then evaluate as a team to see where it will fit within our collection. Finally, it goes into production where we oversee carefully, from a mold to the finished product.
Where do you get your best ideas?
Mollie Faith Good: We are inspired by the classics but interested in the now. We do not see ourselves as a trendy collection, but often we find that our collections are on-trend. Looking at styles from the past always gives me inspiration. I try and translate classic design to make it modern and wearable while staying true to the WF aesthetic.
What does pencil sketching capture that computer-assisted design does not?
Stephanie Walters Abramow: Details! Mollie prefers hand renderings to CAD. With paper and pencil she can capture the small details she wants to shine through in our collection.
Was there a particular piece of jewelry you loved as a child?
Stephanie Walters Abramow: Mollie and I both loved playing dress-up with our mother’s collections as young children. I was beading at six and I still have my original creations. Mollie learned about JAR [jewelry designer Joel Arthur Rosenthal] in high school and became obsessed with fine jewelry and design. When his first book came out, Mollie was adamant she was going to be a fine jewelry designer.
Is the creative process a collaboration between the two of you?
Stephanie Walters Abramow: Absolutely! We really both bring two different points of view to the process. Mollie, as the designer and creative partner, loves to design pieces that she wants to bring to life. As the business-minded partner, I will often look at the numbers and data of what’s been working and try to find creative ways to expand on those styles.
What do each of you bring to the table in terms of what you want to achieve with your pieces?
Mollie Faith Good: I bring the design and style to the table, oftentimes with diamond-intense pieces that can break the bank. Stephanie tends to be more practical and looks for us to create pieces that have versatility and hit certain price points.
How does engraving a piece change it?
Mollie Faith Good: Engraving makes it personal and unique. We have found that clients love engraving to celebrate an anniversary, a new child, a loved one. This makes the piece even more special and personal.
Charms seem to have endured throughout the ages. What about them interests you most—in history and/or contemporary culture?
Stephanie Walters Abramow: I think charms are a great way to grow with your jewelry collection and with Walters Faith. Many times, clients will start with one charm and then build upon them over time. We love the idea of commemorating special life events with jewelry. Charms give you that ability to build a piece over time.
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“We have always said the collection is a ‘synthesis of bold and fine.’ Each piece has a nice weight to it.”
And weight Walters Faith has in spades. Designer Mollie Faith Good, along with her business partner Stephanie Walters Abramow, are masters of artful conflation. Their collection features pieces that blend hard and soft, smoothness and depth. Of their design predilections, Good remarks, “We often juxtapose sterling silver and 18K rose gold. The combination gives each piece nice weight and character without losing its feminine aesthetic.” Indeed, their line straddles that masculine/feminine aesthetic for a look that feels powerful but uncompromising, unfussy in its elegance.
With this particular philosophy running as a constant thread in the Walters Faith line, certain themes naturally appear in the work: ID tags (most readily associated with the military) and thick chains (an eternal and universal symbol of strength). But Good and Abramow put a ladylike spin on both, elevating the form into something fresh. Their pendants, often layered together to form modern charms, are flat plates of precious metal crowned with diamonds. Their chain link rings are shiny and thick, peppered with gems in the most opportune places. Each piece feels worlds away from that which originally inspired it.
Reconfiguring the familiar is decidedly a part of what the brand does well. “We don’t like to over-design,” explains Good. “Chains can be so simple and beautiful. A chain can make its own statement–and be unique–by stretching the length of the link or giving a rectangular shape to each link, opposed to [using] the obvious oval shape.” It’s not about reinventing the wheel; it’s about taking existing shapes and maximizing their potential. Engraving, which is a feature Walters Faith offers on much of their jewelry, adds yet another unexpected alteration.
Every piece in the Walters Faith collection offers itself as a bit of everyday luxury. Together, Good and Abramow create jewelry that feels as ready for a casual lunch with friends as it does the red carpet of a movie premier. Carey Mulligan and Diane Kruger have been seen sporting Walters Faith, and their pieces make frequent cameos in glossies like Vogue and W Magazine. It all possesses a nonchalance that attracts women known for their confidence as well as their style.
Below, we talk to Good and Abramow about early influences, creative balance, and commemorating life’s most important moments with jewelry.
Can you describe your process in getting a piece from idea, to sketch, to final product?
Stephanie Walters Abramow: Everything starts on paper. Mollie sketches on everything from loose paperwork to a cocktail napkin; when an idea comes to her, she has to put it down. From there, she creates a technical drawing, which we then evaluate as a team to see where it will fit within our collection. Finally, it goes into production where we oversee carefully, from a mold to the finished product.
Where do you get your best ideas?
Mollie Faith Good: We are inspired by the classics but interested in the now. We do not see ourselves as a trendy collection, but often we find that our collections are on-trend. Looking at styles from the past always gives me inspiration. I try and translate classic design to make it modern and wearable while staying true to the WF aesthetic.
What does pencil sketching capture that computer-assisted design does not?
Stephanie Walters Abramow: Details! Mollie prefers hand renderings to CAD. With paper and pencil she can capture the small details she wants to shine through in our collection.
Was there a particular piece of jewelry you loved as a child?
Stephanie Walters Abramow: Mollie and I both loved playing dress-up with our mother’s collections as young children. I was beading at six and I still have my original creations. Mollie learned about JAR [jewelry designer Joel Arthur Rosenthal] in high school and became obsessed with fine jewelry and design. When his first book came out, Mollie was adamant she was going to be a fine jewelry designer.
Is the creative process a collaboration between the two of you?
Stephanie Walters Abramow: Absolutely! We really both bring two different points of view to the process. Mollie, as the designer and creative partner, loves to design pieces that she wants to bring to life. As the business-minded partner, I will often look at the numbers and data of what’s been working and try to find creative ways to expand on those styles.
What do each of you bring to the table in terms of what you want to achieve with your pieces?
Mollie Faith Good: I bring the design and style to the table, oftentimes with diamond-intense pieces that can break the bank. Stephanie tends to be more practical and looks for us to create pieces that have versatility and hit certain price points.
How does engraving a piece change it?
Mollie Faith Good: Engraving makes it personal and unique. We have found that clients love engraving to celebrate an anniversary, a new child, a loved one. This makes the piece even more special and personal.
Charms seem to have endured throughout the ages. What about them interests you most—in history and/or contemporary culture?
Stephanie Walters Abramow: I think charms are a great way to grow with your jewelry collection and with Walters Faith. Many times, clients will start with one charm and then build upon them over time. We love the idea of commemorating special life events with jewelry. Charms give you that ability to build a piece over time.