Venus is the first Lepage collection to be entirely made in France, 100% in recycled gold, and we are very proud to have succeeded in this challenge. Find out more about the rich history behind this modern and feminine jewelry line, designed by a talented young woman, whom we supported in the development of her project: Naïs Rosso.
Venus : a collection created by women, for women
The Lepage Design competition, to unearth young talent
The result of almost two years of work, the Venus line is our first all-gold collection. Behind its creation is an inspiring story, that of Naïs, 23 years old, a student in her third year of the National Diploma of Art and Design, winner of the Design 2021 contest organized by the Maison Lepage.
In order to remind you of this event, let's go back to its concept. Originally, the idea of organizing such a competition was born from our desire to support and participate in the training of new talents. In order to make this commitment concrete, we proposed to three schools to collaborate, by opening a competition to their students. The objective? To propose a project, alone or in team, imagining a collection of jewelry which could be proposed to the sale.
Nearly one hundred projects were submitted, and seven students were selected to participate in the final. They were then asked to present the concept of their creations, to explain the decisions behind the design and graphics of the pieces they proposed. After deliberation, Naïs Rosso's project was chosen as the winner, and is now a reality!
Naïs, a passionate and committed young woman
Embodying the new generation of designers in whom we have great hopes, Naïs joined the Lepage team after winning first place in the design competition. The first place was indeed a great reward: 6 months of internship in our development and manufacturing department, as well as the realization of the collection presented to the jury.
Talented, creative, passionate and very involved in her work, Naïs was awarded the title of best apprentice in France, silver category, in 2019, in her first year of CAP. After validating her year and completing her internship, the young woman agreed to continue the adventure at Maison Lepage by accepting a work-study contract. This great opportunity allowed her to stay at the heart of the creation process for the realization of the jewelry she imagined: the Venus line .
Venus creations, more than simple jewelry
Cassiopee, Athena, Daphne, Venus... All these names are tributes to the great female figures of Antiquity, present in Greek or Roman mythological legends. Powerful women, women of power and inspiration, they are the reflection of the heritage that we all carry within us. Venus, goddess of feminine beauty, births and love, was chosen as the pillar of the collection for the image she represents in the collective imagination, and the strong values she conveys, such as the acceptance of love in all its forms.
Venerated for thousands of years, source of inspiration for many artists through time (La Naissance de Vénus by Botticelli, La Vénus de Milo...), many legends revolve around her. Nowadays, she is undoubtedly one of the goddesses with one of the richest and most represented stories !
Meaningful jewelry with a strong look
When we asked Naïs why she felt inspired to go into jewelry, she replied: "Because for me jewelry is a milestone, as a woman it is something that comes up very often in our daily lives, and it embodies feminine freedom." Freedom to please oneself, to enhance oneself, to assume one's tastes and choices... It is true that jewelry is now much more than a simple accessory, that it has a symbolism anchored in our culture. Social marker, the jewel can also be seen as an object of emancipation and power, it is in any case on this idea that Naïs perceives and conceived its collection.
Dedicated to women, the Venus line wants to sublimate each body, and allow a free interpretation. To be worn alone, or combined with each other, the different pieces are all marked by a very particular character and allure. Inspired by the Art Deco movement, the collection sees a strong and meaningful motif blossom at its heart: the creative association of the symbol "♀" dedicated to women, which originally represents the mirror of Venus, and a stylized version of the Lepage triangle.
A collection made entirely of recycled gold
Beyond the atypical story behind its creation, this line has another particularity: it is the first and only (to date) collection of Lepage jewelry without stones, only made of gold. Moreover, in addition to being entirely made in France, from the design to the realization, the Venus jewelry is 100% made of recycled 18k yellow gold.
Within the framework of the RJC labeling, Responsible Jewelry Council , obtained by the Maison Lepage in 2021, which certifies the respect of the good ethical, environmental and human practices of a company, we really wanted to be able to offer you a collection of jewelry going more and more in this direction.
The Venus pieces are all manufactured in our French partner workshops, from reused 18k gold. The title (18k) attests to the excellent quality of the noble material, and the fact that it is recycled considerably reduces the ecological impact since it does not require new extraction from the subsoil to be produced. 85% of Lepage's jewelry is now made of recycled gold, but Véuns is the first line to be made entirely of recycled gold. Gold is a natural noble metal that can be recycled ad infinitum and is becoming increasingly scarce. Thus, buy gold (to our customers for example) to melt it down and reuse it in the manufacture of new jewelry is a concrete measure to contribute to the development of an increasingly responsible jewelry.
Why did you choose yellow gold specifically for this collection, and why not offer creations in white or rose gold? Because it was a desire to highlight the metal with its beautiful natural golden color, in its most "pure" form possible, so that as many women as possible can identify with the jewelry (indeed, although 18k gold is an alloy composed of 75% pure gold and 25% of other noble metals in order to make it more solid and resistant, 18k yellow gold retains, as its name indicates, its natural golden yellow color).
Focus on the flagship piece of the line: the Venus Earring
Presented alone, the Venus mono earring is a maxi earring of almost ten centimeters long. Iconic, it displays a beautiful presence, and takes up the motif of the collection of which it truly represents the soul. Undeniably, it is a jewel that makes a statement and does not go unnoticed! Designed to be worn in three different ways: as a single stud, hanging in front or behind the lobe; it is an original piece of jewelry that can be worn with panache or in a more discreet way, according to your moods...
Thanks to the pendulum system, the pattern oscillates in an almost uninterrupted movement, following your every move. The light shimmers continuously on its surface, dancing on its clean lines and sometimes meeting the gaps that compose it, offering a captivating play of reflections that enhances the solar color of yellow gold...
Discover the Venus collection on lepage.fr and in Lepage boutiques* !
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* Our stores are located in Lille, Rouen and Le Havre, you can find all the opening hours on our website, or contact us directly by phone at 03 20 12 04 04.
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