The Whimsical World of Beepy Bella
Isabella Lalonde is the designer and founder of Beepy Bella, the brand that is bringing our utopian fantasies to life. Isabella encapsulates the very essence of magic in her jewelry designs, handmade with freshwater pearls and vintage charms.
Here, Isabella gives us a glimpse inside the whimsical world of Beepy Bella.
How would you describe your personal style?
My personal style is a form of self expression. Much like painting or cooking, I like to mix textures, colors, shapes, and flavors. Every day I can transform into a new person, with a new perspective and diverse message to bring to the world. It’s a form of communication.
What inspires you?
It’s a generic answer, but nature inspires a lot of my work. Specifically, I love mossy, dewey forests. Being an active fan of world building, I incorporate sounds, smells, and sensations into my utopian fantasies: the soft whispers a deer makes as it dances around the swampy forests, or the shimmering, glistening feeling of fairy dust as pixies roam around the tree tops. My imagination is endless when it comes to building my dream world. It’s a blissful escape.
What prompted you to start your own jewelry brand?
I wanted to create wearable art. Having a strong sense of identity through my personal style, I’ve always thought about becoming a fashion designer, but I was too much of a fine artist to be defined by one role. Jewelry is the perfect marriage between functionality, design, and the art object. Through my brand, I can still create and share my worlds and experimental art. One of the best rewards has been collaborations and working with other artists.
What drew you to working with pearls?
Before I started my own brand, I was obsessed with the idea of pearl necklaces. I am passionate about modernizing and deconstructing pre-existing symbols of sophistication. Pearl necklaces are loaded with status, as the stereotypical wearer would be a wealthy older woman or someone preppy. Challenging this notion is extremely satisfying, and makes me feel like I am making pearl necklaces more accessible for the youth and people who thought they could never fit into that stereotype. I look for irregular pearls, ones that are often overlooked or labeled as imperfect.
Outline the process of designing a piece of jewelry, from start to finish.
It all begins with an idea. I use my beads as poems, a form of language from my innermost being to the consumer. As a person, I’m always growing and that growth is replicated in my jewelry. I source beads from all over the world, from independent artists mastering their crafts. After meticulously sourcing my beads, I leave some room to spontaneously assemble the necklace or bracelet. I put on some vibey music, light some patchouli incense and get into a cathartic stream of creativity.
Your campaign shoots are extremely conceptual and elaborate. Tell us about the creative direction behind your most recent campaign, fairy family.
Thank you for the kind words! Fairy Family is a really special shoot. It was actually the first shoot I did for Beepy Bella, and Emma Craft was the magical photographer. I had an amazing team of creative friends who supported and helped model, style, and do makeup. The whole day was filled with joy and glee. Regarding the concept, I wanted to depict a modern fairy. Having no wings for styling was a conscious choice as I was aiming to revitalize the stereotypical fairy. I truly believe anyone be anything they want, so I wanted people to see that when they wear Beepy Bella, they can accomplish their dreams and shine like the star they are.
What advice do you have for budding creatives?
Use social media to your benefit! Beepy Bella would not be possible without all the amazing creatives I’ve had the privilege of working with, and the majority of those talented artists I discovered through Instagram. Don’t be afraid to reach out if you are a big fan of someone’s work and shoot as high as you can. I’ve worked with people who I originally thought were out of my league, but have a strong vision, unique concept and positive attitude, and people will work with you because they believe in you as a person.
What’s next for you and beepy bella?
So much is next! 2020 is going to be a great year for me. I’m working on several collaborations product-wise, planning my next campaign and working on packaging as always. I’m really excited to start getting stocked at some NYC stores. I’m hoping to work with more stylists to get my products featured on creatives that I admire. Basically, I hope to solidify everything I worked so hard for this past year and really take it to the next level of professionalism and artistry.
Originally published December 25, 2019
