Elisa Pantazopoulos

ELI-O

Jewellery maker

Jewels with a twist

Elisa’s jewellery is inspired by her Greek roots
She creates her pieces with the lost wax casting technique
She uses locally sourced recycled silver and gold

While Elisa Pantazopoulos was studying at the University of Law in Fribourg, she was fascinated by the jewellery world. She used to spend hours watching videos about jewellery making. As she continued her studies, she realized that she wanted to do something with her hands. When she moved to London, she enrolled in night courses for jewellery making. That was the turning point. She still remembers the powerful feeling she had the day she made her first ring. Once graduated, Elisa studied jewellery making at Holt’s Academy and in 2016, she launched her own jewellery business ELI-O. For Elisa, the beauty of jewellery is that you can keep it forever, and the strong connection between the jewel and its wearer.

Interview

What does beauty mean to you?: Now more than ever, we need to change the way we consume. A piece of jewellery is only beautiful if the process used to produce it preserves the integrity and beauty of nature and the people that made that piece.
How do you create sustainably?: I appreciate considerate craftsmanship and use local produce. To minimise my environmental footprint and to support local designers and manufacturers, I use recycled silver and gold sourced in Switzerland and I have my pieces cast in Geneva.
What are your sources of inspiration?: I am inspired by my Greek roots. I love the atmosphere, the people and the culture there. I have always been fascinated by Greece and its antiques. Especially by the Ancient Greek jewellery. There is something timeless about its beauty.
How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?: I use the ancient technique of wax carving but leave a contemporary mark on my pieces. All of my pieces are handmade; I never use or make a mould of existing antique coins. The hand worked wax model is cast in silver or gold following the traditional lost wax method.

Elisa Pantazopoulos is a rising star: she began her career in 2016