I started on this path when I was 20 years old. At that time, I was seeking my way in the world. I made jewellery out of materials I found around, such as shells – I’m from Apulia – fossils, branches and roots. At a point, I moved to Milan with my portfolio and my shells.

It was the time of people like Romeo Gigli, natural elements were predominant. I started working in the fashion world, then my passion for the jewellery making took over. Meanwhile, my desire to experiment suddenly became a job. In the early 2000s I was the leading designer of Breil.

My work with Breil went hand in hand with creating my personal collection of jewellery. They inspired each other: the Breil collection was made of steel and embellished with natural elements. After 15 years at Breil, I wanted to create unique pieces.

Definitely, on several fronts. I love when an antique jewel or an object comes back to life in another form, without wasting any material. And I’ve always been very attentive in choosing materials: instead of using ivory, I preferred to use mammoth bones.