What makes an heirloom? For Sophie, Dominique and Chloé Nagle – the minds behind the namesake brand – the answer lies in jewellery with meaning: an engagement ring worn thread-thin with age, a serpent necklace bought from a French market, a pair of apple-shaped earrings…
The siblings are firm believers in the power of stories. In the world of Nagle and Sisters, the tales behind a piece of jewellery are part of its make-up, as much as any engraving or jewel. It’s a sentiment we share at Anthropologie – and we’re the first to admit we’re captivated by the sisters’ modern-ethnic designs, each handcrafted in East London (just waiting to take on a story of their own!). So, in honour of their latest collection, we sat down with the trio to talk family, “franglais”, and all that glitters.
What inspired three sisters to come together and form a jewellery brand?
S: We love and respect each other's tastes – in fashion, décor, books (the list goes on!) – and I feel that mutual appreciation led to the brand. It seemed so natural to create something beautiful with my favourite people.
Meet the Maker:
Nagle & Sisters
The French-English trio discuss storytelling,
jewellery-making, and the golden link between the two.
How would you describe each of your personalities and how do your differences work within the realms of business?
D: Growing up together meant that we knew how to approach things as a team without losing our individuality. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and we’re all aware of what they are; we feel empowered by each other. I think our different personalities and skill-sets complement each other’s perfectly. Sophie, being the eldest, is our strength and chief organiser; I’m the middle child, and the designer-maker, and Chloé is the youngest – our light and voice.
You describe yourselves as having a perfectly ‘franglais’ upbringing, what’s it like being of dual nationality?
C: Belonging to both nations is a powerful feeling. Our language is utterly “franglais”: we speak a melange of French and English, using whichever word comes first. In fact, melange is a very apt way of describing what it’s like to have dual nationality: two completely different threads mixing together to create an interwoven fabric.
D: We have the best of both worlds. As children, French was our secret language – plus, we had a maman who was the epitome of chic!
D: Growing up together meant that we knew how to approach things as a team without losing our individuality. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and we’re all aware of what they are; we feel empowered by each other. I think our different personalities and skill-sets complement each other’s perfectly. Sophie, being the eldest, is our strength and chief organiser; I’m the middle child, and the designer-maker, and Chloé is the youngest – our light and voice.
You describe yourselves as having a perfectly ‘franglais’ upbringing, what’s it like being of dual nationality?
C: Belonging to both nations is a powerful feeling. Our language is utterly “franglais”: we speak a melange of French and English, using whichever word comes first. In fact, melange is a very apt way of describing what it’s like to have dual nationality: two completely different threads mixing together to create an interwoven fabric.
D: We have the best of both worlds. As children, French was our secret language – plus, we had a maman who was the epitome of chic!
You split your time between London and Montréal – what are your favourite things about both?
C: We’re actually based in three separate cities. Sophie now lives in the Eastern Townships, near Montréal. Dominique lives in East London and I’m based in Brighton, our home city. Brighton is Brighton, it’s free and liberal: it has our memories, and, of course, the sea!
Making jewellery that forms a connection with its wearer is the driving force behind the brand – what piece (past or present), means the most to each of you?
C: I have a pair of earrings given to me by our uncle. They’re solid gold studs in the form of little apples – I hope that one day, my daughter will wear them too.
S: For me, our Astrid ring. I illustrated it, and I was so happy with how the engraver brought it to life. It’s small, but I find concentrating on it really calming.
D: I love the stories behind a piece of jewellery. My husband proposed to me with my grandmother’s wedding band, which is so delicate; it’s been worn down to what looks like a gold thread over the years. When it came to making my own wedding ring, I chose a very fine band in honour of my grandparents.
You once said that you grew up fascinated by your mother’s jewellery collections and their history. Can you describe some of the pieces from your mother’s collection that you hold dear?
S: My mother has a snake necklace that she got from a French market. I used to think it was so exotic and fascinating as a child (and still do!).
D: Maman wears our grandmother’s engagement ring to this day – a large sapphire with diamonds set all around it. It’s timeless, and truly stunning.
C: We’re actually based in three separate cities. Sophie now lives in the Eastern Townships, near Montréal. Dominique lives in East London and I’m based in Brighton, our home city. Brighton is Brighton, it’s free and liberal: it has our memories, and, of course, the sea!
Making jewellery that forms a connection with its wearer is the driving force behind the brand – what piece (past or present), means the most to each of you?
C: I have a pair of earrings given to me by our uncle. They’re solid gold studs in the form of little apples – I hope that one day, my daughter will wear them too.
S: For me, our Astrid ring. I illustrated it, and I was so happy with how the engraver brought it to life. It’s small, but I find concentrating on it really calming.
D: I love the stories behind a piece of jewellery. My husband proposed to me with my grandmother’s wedding band, which is so delicate; it’s been worn down to what looks like a gold thread over the years. When it came to making my own wedding ring, I chose a very fine band in honour of my grandparents.
You once said that you grew up fascinated by your mother’s jewellery collections and their history. Can you describe some of the pieces from your mother’s collection that you hold dear?
S: My mother has a snake necklace that she got from a French market. I used to think it was so exotic and fascinating as a child (and still do!).
D: Maman wears our grandmother’s engagement ring to this day – a large sapphire with diamonds set all around it. It’s timeless, and truly stunning.
What are some of your favourite memories as a family, and, if you could go back to any time or place, what would it be?
S: I cherish the memory of a beach day at Jullouville in Normandy… The sun had lost its glare, but not its warmth. We stayed late, and, after everyone had left, we had the beach to ourselves for a final end-of-day swim.
There are strong historical influences mixed with au courant touches throughout your collections – how do you blend the two?
C: Historical jewellery is so interesting. It offers endless inspiration. We like to simplify designs with clean lines to keep them feeling fresh, like our new pendants on super-fine gold, or our signet rings with their tiny raised flower motifs. We tend to prefer pieces that look a little rough and grainy, not too over-polished – as if they have been found (a past heirloom, or perhaps buried treasure!).
S: I cherish the memory of a beach day at Jullouville in Normandy… The sun had lost its glare, but not its warmth. We stayed late, and, after everyone had left, we had the beach to ourselves for a final end-of-day swim.
There are strong historical influences mixed with au courant touches throughout your collections – how do you blend the two?
C: Historical jewellery is so interesting. It offers endless inspiration. We like to simplify designs with clean lines to keep them feeling fresh, like our new pendants on super-fine gold, or our signet rings with their tiny raised flower motifs. We tend to prefer pieces that look a little rough and grainy, not too over-polished – as if they have been found (a past heirloom, or perhaps buried treasure!).
From chunky hoops to floral motifs, what inspired your latest collection?
C: Mother Earth. We wanted to make a collection that was really grounded; it’s been a testing year for everyone, so it felt right to go back to nature. We called it ‘Terra’, meaning earth or land. In order to design it, we needed to look closely at our surroundings. I think we all found that very therapeutic.
If you had to pick a favourite piece, which would it be and why?
S: The Palm necklace. It’s a statement piece without being over the top. A thick square pendant with the softness of leaves set on a shorter chain. I really like how it feels contemporary but classic at the same time.
And finally, what advice would you give aspiring jewellery designers today?
Don’t be afraid to keep working on an idea, or to experiment with different materials. For example, we love using brass as well as silver and gold; each one takes its own set of skills. Simply, keep practicing, expand your range, and have fun with it all!
C: Mother Earth. We wanted to make a collection that was really grounded; it’s been a testing year for everyone, so it felt right to go back to nature. We called it ‘Terra’, meaning earth or land. In order to design it, we needed to look closely at our surroundings. I think we all found that very therapeutic.
If you had to pick a favourite piece, which would it be and why?
S: The Palm necklace. It’s a statement piece without being over the top. A thick square pendant with the softness of leaves set on a shorter chain. I really like how it feels contemporary but classic at the same time.
And finally, what advice would you give aspiring jewellery designers today?
Don’t be afraid to keep working on an idea, or to experiment with different materials. For example, we love using brass as well as silver and gold; each one takes its own set of skills. Simply, keep practicing, expand your range, and have fun with it all!