Bonnie Radow Of Bonnie Radow Designs On Why They Are Embracing Slow Fashion and Renewable Consumption
An Interview With Monica Sanders
Caring about your customer. Again, quality over quantity. Many of my clients are repeat customers and it is because I take the time to get to know them and create pieces to fit their unique story.
As ‘slow fashion’ grows in popularity, more fashion companies are jumping on the bandwagon. Renewable consumption has been gaining popularity for a while, as people recognize its importance, and many fashion companies want to be a part of this change. In this interview series, we are talking to business leaders in the fashion industry to discuss why they are embracing slow fashion and renewable consumption. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Bonnie Radow.
Bonnie Radow Designs is a distinguished jewelry brand celebrated for its unique heirloom-quality pieces. With her distinctive touch, artist Bonnie Radow blends Victorian and antique Asian artifacts into each creation, infusing them with captivating stories and timeless charm. Her collection offers a variety of exquisite jewelry, from storybook necklaces to bold silver cuffs, delicate ruby bracelets and contemporary interpretations of charm bracelets, all designed to harmoniously complement one another for endless creative mix-and-match possibilities.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”?
I spent three decades as an interior designer, curating spaces to fit each client’s wants and needs. Following that, I spent ten years as a sculptor, shaping my creative vision with three-dimensional art. My extensive travels around the globe exposed me to the allure of antiques, igniting a passion within me.
This love inspired a creative transformation. I began infusing these finds into my existing jewelry, giving them a unique, personal touch. Eventually, I started creating my own jewelry designs, initially just for my enjoyment and later for friends and family. I found a new joy in sharing them with people, and my journey into the world of jewelry design began.
Can you tell us the story about what led you to this particular career path?
It was truly my love for creating unique pieces for myself and my friends that led me to design pieces for others to enjoy. After a bit of success, I started my business, Bonnie Radow Designs, designing jewelry full-time.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
I have had so many interesting stories since starting this career. Every client I meet comes with their own unique history that shapes their preferences, making every piece I create resonate in a distinct way.
I also always find it so interesting when those who wear my jewelry share their experiences with friends and even complete strangers approaching them, admiring the beauty and uniqueness of their jewelry. Seeing how these pieces connect with people and inspire such spontaneous, positive interactions never ceases to put a smile on my face.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
I think my perseverance to do well was instrumental. Starting any business is difficult, and a jewelry business even more so. If I wasn’t dedicated to my work, I do not think I would have been able to continue.
My outgoing personality encourages my love to learn more about my clients, allowing me to make custom pieces that suit their personalities. I started my jewelry business making storybook necklaces that personalized the story of each client’s life. It allowed me to get to know each client and create lifelong treasures to help preserve their stories.
My passion for history and unique pieces, especially for Victorian and antique Asian artifacts from around the world, has allowed me to create compelling pieces that my clients will treasure for years.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
My work is very different from most other artists. I like to take old pieces and make them more contemporary. Every old piece of fine jewelry has a story to tell and modernizing them makes that story relevant today for my clients. I aim to create heirloom-quality pieces that can be enjoyed for generations.
One example of this is a unique and fun piece I recently created. It was a sterling silver cuff bracelet with a 19th-century ivory happy Buddha wrapped in 14k gold, a mother of pearl inlay and ruby stones. It featured so many elements without overpowering one another, and I knew it would be perfect for someone who appreciates a historic element with a small flare. I know the client who purchased it (and their family) will be able to enjoy it for a long time.
Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share a story of how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Life happens while making plans.” I think that saying is self-explanatory. So many times, I have made plans, and they were changed due to life’s intervention.
With a career in interior design spanning over three decades, I initially thought that was my niche. However, my journey led me to discover sculpting, which eventually led to the creation of my jewelry line. And here we are today.
Who is your fashion hero or heroine? Why?
I have many. The one that stands out is Coco Chanel. She created designs on the spot without drawings or outlines. I do the same. I used to start by drawing different designs, but I always ended up changing them during fabrication. So now I just create while working in my studio. The pieces take on their own meaning and appearance as they are created. Like the fashion legend, I rarely prepare to design. I just go for it.
Why did you decide to create and use a sustainable business model for your fashion brand?
It was a natural path that stemmed from my love of collecting antiques during my travels. Even today, I am always looking for unique pieces to add to my collection when traveling, but I also have managed to discover treasures closer to home. Incorporating these items into contemporary jewelry allows me to add my artistic touch while preserving their beauty and techniques, breathing new life into them for future generations.
What are three things we should all know about “slow fashion”?
Slow fashions teach us there is intrinsic beauty in well-made and well-designed pieces. When the art of creating the piece is meaningful and original, there is no need to constantly replace it. The piece becomes a personal treasure that can be enjoyed for a lifetime and be passed on for generations. Quantity can never replace quality and true art. I believe individuals who can acquire pieces to enjoy and never tire of are very fortunate.
Can you please explain how it can be fashionable to buy less, wait a little longer, or even repair clothing?
Buying quality and truly beautiful things should not represent fashion trends. I believe it is more fashionable to invest in well-made, classic pieces that represent the person, rather than some fad. Not only will it outlive the latest trend, but it can serve as a memento of the original owner, even when they are no longer with us. Those kinds of pieces are what become a part of our heritage.
Thank you for all that. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Slow Fashion Brand”.
1. Pieces that are high quality and made with extraordinary craftsmanship. I continue to get more clients who want items that will outlast a season or two, literally and figuratively.
2. Pieces whose beauty is timeless and will always be admired and cannot be copied. I see many clients who gravitate towards my work because they know no other person will have that item in their collection.
3. Pieces that future generations can cherish no matter how the styles of the time change. I feel like for a while, heirlooms were seen as unfashionable, but there has been a resurgence in timeless pieces. I love hearing stories from clients about their daughters or granddaughters asking to borrow or even keep some of my pieces for their own collections.
4. Caring about your customer. Again, quality over quantity. Many of my clients are repeat customers and it is because I take the time to get to know them and create pieces to fit their unique story.
5. Pieces that will always draw admiration and compliments from those who see and appreciate them. I’m an artist at my core, so I think of every piece of jewelry as a small piece of artwork. You want not only your clients to appreciate your craftmanship but also the people who will see them wearing it. Nothing makes me smile more than hearing clients tell me about the number of compliments they get while wearing my jewelry.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
I would want everyone to find an artist outlet that suits them. Creating beautiful art, regardless of whether it is sculpting, design, music or even graphic design, really does bring joy to people’s lives and souls. I believe if everyone could tap into their own artistic side, the world would be a happier place where people could share their joy and love and forget all their differences.
How can our readers further follow your work online.
bonnieradowdesigns.com
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
About the Interviewer: Monica Sanders JD, LL.M, is the founder of “The Undivide Project”, an organization dedicated to creating climate resilience in underserved communities using good tech and the power of the Internet. She holds faculty roles at the Georgetown University Law Center and the Tulane University Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy. Professor Sanders also serves on several UN agency working groups. As an attorney, Monica has held senior roles in all three branches of government, private industry, and nonprofits. In her previous life, she was a journalist for seven years and the recipient of several awards, including an Emmy. Now the New Orleans native spends her time in solidarity with and championing change for those on the frontlines of climate change and digital divestment. Learn more about how to join her at: www.theundivideproject.org.
