Ruth Miles, Founder and Jewelry Designer of Annabellah, speaks to us about what inspires her creative designs and gives us an insight into her daily life in the vibrant city of London Town.
What inspired you to become a designer?
Even from a young age, I was drawn to and appreciated aesthetics and design. In school I knew instinctively that I wanted to be a designer. After studying graphic design in college, I began to evolve and experiment with different mediums. But jewelry became my first love because it allowed me to be free to take creativity whereever I wanted to go. I am influenced by places and cultures such as India for their rich jewel colour tones. I also love tribal pieces for their vivid colours. Different cultures and era’s have influenced my work. They have a rich history, to me that is grounding.
What process do you go through in creating a piece?
I collect objects, fabrics, and ornaments in markets randomly. I source them but initially have no idea what I am going to make. For example, I once found some animal charms in a local market and went home and immediately made a bracelet. The pieces take form easily for me and I just organically put them together. It’s the one gift I have where if someone gave me five different types of materials, I would be able to make something beautiful out of it. The process is easy for me…natural, with little effort.
I also did a work placement in Paris for three weeks when I first started to design jewelry. I worked for an accessory designer who made fashion show pieces for Chloe, Lanvin, and Christian Lacroix. The experience was very helpful and gave me confidence in my work. There is a design book that I highly recommend for any aspiring jewelry designer called Jewelry Concepts and Technology.
Who are your Favourite designers?
Alexander Mcqueen because of the craftsmanship and the precision of his work. I also like Stella McCartney. She is one of the few designers that manages to combine great design without compromising her social and environmental values by incorporating animal free clothes and products.
Where do you shop in London?
I tend to support local businesses and independents. In Greenwich Village there is a shop called Meet Bernard (meetbernard.com) which offers clothes and accessories by diverse brands such as British designer Paul Smith, H by Hudson, American Vintage and Ganni. I like that they put a lot of thought into what they carry. Spittlefields market, in Shoreditch, is another great place to go on a Saturday for goods made by local designers.
Creatively, what do you like about living in London?
The Tate Modern is a favourite of mine because it holds exhibitions that always provoke thought which is fun. There are also pop-up galleries that are always happening all over the city. Just knowing that there are other creatives out there doing their thing is inspiring because they are sharing their art. It’s another form of communication that can be quite powerful.
A few personal questions…
What perfume do you wear?
I use Relaxation by Neil’s Yard which is a natural aromatic essence oil. It contains lavender.
What’s your daily workout routine at the gym?
I enjoy running outdoors in warmer climates. I go to the local park and do a run for about 30 mins; otherwise I go to the gym.
When did you decide to become a Vegan?
I was a vegetarian for 25 years and never really ate meat very much. The natural next step for me was to go dairy free.
What is your Favourite meal?
I make Vegan Pizza at home with tomato, mushrooms and vegan cheese.
I sometimes go to a charming little Peruvian Restaurant in Soho called Señor Ceviche where you can get delicious vegan food.
See more of Ruth’s designs at http://www.annabellah.com. Her Instagram account is @annahellahinapicture.
