INTERVIEW #94 PYLA

Based in: Rome, Italy 

Founded in: 2016 

Founded by: Silvia Zoppellari

Stores: Shipping worldwide through eCommerce and a variety of retailers in Europe.

Website and shop: www.pyla.it

eCommerce: shop.pyla.it

Price range: 10€ - 100€

Instagram: @pylajewlry

Pyla, welcome to A Sustainable Closet! Tell our readers who you are.

Pyla is a brand of accessories, born in Italy in 2016. We work to ensure the uniqueness of each piece, firmly supporting craftsmanship. We believe that you don't need to be a princess to shine. We think that jewellery should be as unique and individual as the person who wears it. That's why we make our accessories with an essential yet original design that won't break the bank.

Our collections are bold but never ostentatious, geometric without appearing austere, they are determined to even if far from pretentious. Proof that you can shine even without diamonds.

The name Pyla was one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make in the process of launching my business. I considered many different names, but ultimately it came down to one thing: an emotional connection.

What does the name Pyla stand for?

Pyla is the highest dune in Europe, located in France near Bordeaux. When I first saw it, I was entranced. This massive dune of sand was unlike anything I had ever seen. The formation of this huge pile is unclear, it could have been carried there by the wind or by water, or perhaps it was formed when two smaller dunes collided. None of that mattered to me. What mattered was how beautiful it was, it captured my imagination and made me wonder how such a simple raw material could be transformed into something so extraordinary.

That's why I chose this name for my brand: because our jewellery is made from humble materials, mainly brass and resin, but when they are transformed into something new and unexpected, they become something truly spectacular. Just like a sand dune, which can be left alone for thousands of years yet still form an incredible sculpture through nature's whimsy.

I was raised in a family where waste was seen as a mistake not to be made. My mother has always recycled items and clothes as much as possible, but also food. So mine is not only a commitment at work but a general attitude to purchases.

Consciously buying for me mainly means knowing that if I am buying an item I am making a commitment to use it to its fullest, to its "exhaustion." I have carried these life lessons back into my work, and over the years in the office and in the workshop no raw materials have ever been wasted, from paper to metals, from ropes to chains, from processing tools to products resulting from mishandling.

My commitment is also about being conscious about what you buy. It's about making sure that every purchase you make helps you live your life more sustainably and ethically.

We adore your jewellery, what makes them sustainable?

Our commitment: to produce jewels that are sustainable through a very strict zero waste policy.

We are very proud of our Italian production and we attempt to make sure that it is as close to home as possible. We have tried to use not only Italian manufacturers but also Italian suppliers of raw materials. Many processes still happen in-house, but for the past few months, we have begun to use outside craftsmen to respond more quickly to the increase in our sales.

We know that there is a delicate balance between quality and speed, so we do not rush into any decisions. Our goal is always to make sure that everything we do is done with care and attention. We have found that using outside craftsmen has been a positive experience for both sides of the equation: they are able to deliver quality work on time, while we can focus on other aspects of our business that need our attention more often than not.

Who is the typical Pyla costumer?

The typical Pyla girl is between the ages of 26 and 55. She is elegant and strong-willed, with a keen eye for art and architecture. She is educated and eager to express her distinctive trait even through accessories.

I have to mention that many boys started to get interested in our products from the very first model. We also worked on male made-to-order accessories. They are not our main target but frequently we have noticed some of them buying a piece of our jewellery from all the collections.

Where do you as a designer find inspiration for your collections?

I love to experiment, and I especially like to play with materials. I've been working with a lot of different inspirations, but my favourite is probably the modern art movement. One of my favourite artists is Alvar Aalto. He loved going around Europe and seeing how architecture was being used in different places and he loved experimenting with different materials and shapes.

Another artist who inspires me is Lucio Fontana. He worked with glass, marble and many different materials, it seemed like he had so many new ideas all the time! He would make his pieces of art using these techniques that nobody had ever seen before. It was really exciting for him because he could try something new over and over again without worrying about what people would think about it or how it would work out in practice.

What have been and are the major challenges of starting your own business?

The gestation time for my project was about 5 years. That's something like 5 years of study, research, and planning that led to the birth of Pyla in 2016.

It was really hard for me to handle the sudden changes that came up over the years shortly after I started my business—small and large situations that I could not foresee and that inevitably forced my strategy into alternative paths that would have taken years to get right.

What have been and are the largest gains?

I would like to answer this question more personally rather than professionally. In these years of working with Pyla I have learned to dose my time better: between my work time and my personal time.

I had begun to never disconnect from my work, which was therefore merging too much with my personal life. Now, however, I have found ways to work more methodically to carve out spaces for myself. I have learned to check my schedule before starting the day, and make sure that there is enough room for both work and other activities.

This has also greatly affected the choice of people I work with: not too stressed by work but at the same time bringing results. So yes, I would say that looking back, this is the biggest achievement I have achieved work-wise.

The best thing about Pyla ?

Our company has excellent customer service. We're not just happy to answer any questions or concerns our customers have, but we strive to make sure that we're providing the best service possible. Ranging from simply answering all the inquiries that come to us to providing repair service for our accessories, we take pride in making sure everything is done right and fast.

We love to hear feedback from our customers, and we’re always working to improve. Our customers have been very happy with the way we have handled their inquiries, and we want to continue to provide that level of service for them.

What's up next, do you have anything fun to share?

We have just launched our new collection! The Crescent collection is inspired by the moon and the stars; and the elements that characterise: the shape and the light. The colours are blue, pink and purple. We also added some gold to give a more refined touch to this collection. The moon has always been an element that stimulates us; in fact, we have used its shape on various occasions and accessories.

We wanted to create a look that would be timeless and chic at the same time. We tried to incorporate elements that were classic but with a modern twist so that they could be worn both seasonally or year-round by anyone who likes to be comfortable and stylish at all times. I hope you enjoy it!