Atelier 11 is a collective of jewelry designers Ludovik Colpaert and Flor Janssens. In the beginning of 2000, they launched a studio for contemporary jewelry and in 2003, they opened their own flagship store in Antwerp.
Two times a year, Atelier 11 designs a new collection. Every collection has its own theme and story. Keywords in all designs are tongue-in-cheek humour, strong concepts and colours. The goal of the collective is to create no-nonsense silver jewelry for both him and her. Statement jewelry, that appeals to people who are looking for original designs and an individual approach.
Apart from Atelier 11’s seasonal collection, the collective also designs and creates jewelry, objects, accessories and advertising gifts, on demand of companies.
In 2000, Atelier 11 designed the V.I.P. jewelry for the Belgian pavilion at the international exhibition in Hannover. Over the years Atelier 11 also has been the artistic manufacturer of the Raf Simons Jewelry. Since the cooperation with Raf Simons several fashion designers and labels have relied on the expertise of Atelier 11 in fashion jewelry and accessories. Among them: Jean Paul Gaultier, Caroline Herrera, Ann Demeulemeester, Anna Heylen, Walter Van Beirendonk, Veronique Branquinho, Martin Margiela, Café Costume, …
Anne Zellien grew up above the fashion shop started by her grandma during World War II. Her grandma and mum were always very elegantly dressed and had a keen eye for detail.
Each outfit was completed with carefully chosen hats, shoes, handbags and jewellery. This attention to detail instilled in Anne a desire to continue this passion.
At the age of 18, she dreamt of becoming a painter, but ended up enrolling in a jewellery design programme at the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts. After graduating, she worked for many years in the diamond industry, where she gained a great deal of experience. At the age of 39, she decided that the time had come to focus once more on her passion and opened a shop with workshop on Kammenstraat in Antwerp.
Anne has always been fascinated by historical jewellery and over the course of time she became particularly interested in the style known as ‘Sentimental Jewelry’, a style that was quite fashionable in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. Jewelry of this kind was strongly personalised with engravings, hidden messages, portraits and charms, superbly accentuating the bond between 2 people – the person whose gift it was, and the person who was to wear the jewelry.
Being convinced of the importance of love and friendship in life, Anne concentrates on these very personal messages that she expresses in her work.
Other sources of inspiration are literature, classical music, vintage jewellery and, of course, all those people whom she had the pleasure to meet, and who have marked her journey.
Her favourite working materials are silver, gold, diamonds, semi-precious stones and pearls.
