Gerda De Vrij studied in Pforzheim under Klaus Ullrich, one of the pioneers for ‘modern jewellery’. After graduating she settled in Antwerp and started her own atelier with her then-husband, Emile Henry. Since then, their two daughters have joined the business, ensuring the brands’ survival into the next generation.
For De Vrij, the natural characteristics of the materials used influence her designs, this is strongly reflected in the organic textures and forms that make the collection so recognisable. The designer holds in high esteem the words spoken by her famous teacher: “Jewelry is intended to be a synthesis of contemporary design and wearability; it needs to be understood by the woman wearing it, as it could otherwise provoke her.”
