Every girl needs her bling, but how often do we think about what the company behind our favorite accessories actually stands for?

Enter Ariel Gordon, a jewelry designer that prides herself in sustainable locally made adornments that are sure to become a staple in your wardrobe — and not to mention, special occasion gift go-to.

We caught up with Ariel recently in her native Los Angeles to talk about designing with social responsibility in mind, handmaking her very own font and why celebs like Claire Danes, Eva Longoria and Drew Barrymore love her flirty and sophisticated pieces.

So all of your jewelry is made here in Los Angeles?

Yup, I make everything locally here in L.A. with all responsibly sourced materials, a lot of the gold I use is recycled and all of the stones I use come from reputable dealers.

What are your inspirations behind some of the pieces and what are some of your favorite pieces?

Well in general I tend to design pieces that can be kind of staples in your wardrobe, like your favorite jeans or favorite handbag. It’s not jewelry that you have to change every day. A lot of my girlfriends have the same necklace that they wear all the time or the same studs so I just try to design pieces that can just be your “go-to” and “everyday” pieces.

I think I am well-known for my initial necklaces. I saw that movie Helvetica and became obsessed with typography, and was like “Wow, I want to make a font,” so I designed the font by hand. Drew Barrymore has one, so does Eva Longoria and Claire Danes.

I also have the little love knot rings which are really big sellers. I try to do pieces that are personalized and still sentimental, but because I design in real metals, you can shower in it, workout in it, sleep in it and it’s not going to tarnish on you, it will last for years. Continue reading →