This month, MaryLou Jewelry had the opportunity to create yet another custom piece for a customer.
Nicole reached out to MaryLou after reading a previously published article where we recapped the making of a custom hand chain and I had the opportunity to speak to Nicole about the inspiration behind her custom piece. Her thoughts on the customer experience, and how her MaryLou creations have become a daily staple in her wardrobe.
The aesthetic of an earring gauge is extremely unique. It can alter the entire silhouette of your face, trading simplicity for depth and character. It’s very “punk.” MaryLou’s creative direction seamlessly combined the traditionally punk aesthetics of an ear gauge with the elegance that we are accustomed to in our handmade pieces. Personally, this is my favorite custom we’ve done to date because it demonstrates the extensive creative range that we can work within. Nicole gave us some insight into the inspiration behind this custom in a phone interview.
For years Nicole had been considering gauging her ear. She always said it was something she would do “one day.” Once the pandemic hit, that was the push Nicole needed to take the leap and just do it. Her plugs are conservatively-sized compared to what you’ll see on social media or in pop culture. The aesthetic is unique in its own right and Nicole pulls it off beautifully. Fast forward to March 2023, MaryLou published our “Lucky Number” blog about the making of a custom hand chain. This gave Nicole the idea of having custom plugs made. She found the material of traditional daily wear plugs to be irritating to her skin, and because she had previously purchased a pair of custom white gold Huggies, she knew the quality and material she was looking for would be found at MaryLou.
Although this was a unique request for MaryLou, the customization process was just as seamless as our customers have come to expect. Nicole gave our founder, Gordonnay, a sample plug for sizing, and Gordi set off to create a user-friendly plug made for durability. According to Nicole, she was immediately blown away when she received her package in the mail only a week after completing her order. In her own words:
“The packaging stood out to me immediately. It was so unique and gave me the feeling of owning my first real piece of jewelry. I noticed immediately that the plug was extremely user friendly. The back is a twist on and ensures that it won’t fall out during my daily activities. She had the foresight to maximize my user experience and I applaud the intention she used throughout this process. For a while I went back and forth between yellow and white gold, but Gordonnay’s creative direction helped me settle on white gold. My custom plugs combined with my Huggies is my favorite combination for everyday wear.”
Nicole has always been a jewelry fan, but like so many of us, a large swath of her collection consisted of plastic or cheap metals that were easily accessible at retail stores. MaryLou helped combine that accessibility with the durability jewel wearers search for when investing in high quality pieces. Nicole is grateful for the costume jewelry days that helped her find her aesthetic, but she’s stepping into a new era with MaryLou’s custom creations. She left us with these words:
“Gordonnay is amazing. The care and intention is unmatched. I plan to do this process again many times over.”
