Lene Vibe
Read bioLene takes us on a romp through the forest and into the woods and we see all of the enchanting inspirations we related to as young girls, fairies, exotic flowers and the creatures one might find in the most charming of stories and tales. She translates our vivid recollections with elegance, sophistication and grace into wearable one-of -a -kind pieces of jewelry in which the golden magical motifs surround the most sumptuous of her handpicked baroque South Sea, Keshi and Tahitian pearls and antique cut natural colored diamonds.
It’s not surprising that the Danish-born and bred designer spent a lot of time reading and exploring the countryside where she grew up in Jylland. Lene explains, “I was very shy when I was younger and much of the time, played by myself. I loved fairytales, playing in the woods and pretending to be Queen Elizabeth I on her horse, although I did not look like that at all,” she laughs. “Later on, I grew out of my shy phase but I remember it being a very happy childhood and I think it’s given me the independence and tenacity to do what makes me the most satisfied today, on my own terms and in my very personal way.”
When asked about how her start in the jewelry business, Lene explains, “I had always been passionate about jewelry but never thought I’d be able to make it my life’s work since I draw like a three year old.” She laughs. “But then fate sort of stepped in. Three of my favorite rings were stolen and I decided to recreate them myself and took a weekend workshop in jewelry making. I continued to cultivate my craft at home in my spare time.” Eventually Lene was became an apprentice at George Jensen in 1995 and worked there for three years. She had moved to Copenhagen, where she then took a four-year goldsmithing course and opened her own store and wholesaling business in 2002. “I realized that I didn’t have to know how to render as long as I could make all my models and create my own textures, finishes and details, which I do for all of my designs. Nothing is sketched first. It all takes place in my head and comes out through my hands.”
