Meet Phoebe & Annette Stephens | Jewelry Designers

We had the good fortune of connecting with Phoebe & Annette Stephens and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Phoebe & Annette, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
We grew up surrounded by art and artists. Both our father and our grandmother were visual artists as were many of their friends. From the way we design our jewelry, to how we curate our homes, to the clothing we wear feels rooted in the design history of our upbringing in Mexico. It has been a part of our DNA as well as our brand’s. We spent hours in our grandmother’s and our father’s studios growing up. Using materials we found in their work spaces, we were always making things, from school projects to drawings and objects for ourselves. We visited museums every Sunday and our father would talk to us about art and encourage us to find our own artistic voice. We also spent many weekends in the countryside playing outdoors and coming up with our own imaginary pre-internet worlds. Being bi-cultural has given us a unique perspective which we try to apply to our brand’s ethos.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
We had a strong vision from the beginning that helped set us apart in a competitive market. When we started the fashion world adhered to very strict rules. It was pre instagram and social media. Designers were dependent on magazines and stores to get their products out there. We worked hard in the first five years to position the brand. We had to be disciplined, especially being sisters. We had to have a strong work ethic. We would work a full day and then in the evenings attend business related events. It was an intense time but it payed off. In the first few months of launching the brand, the New York Times broke our story and we got into our first stores. We were excited but also had a lot of pressure to deliver our collection. We would design three collections a year showcased in both Paris and New York. Since our pieces were each individually handcrafted in our workshop in Mexico this required of us to be efficient and timely in our manufacturing and delivery schedules. Our learning curve consisted of some trial and error. The fact that we had a close partnership allowed us to bounce ideas off each other which helped with the challenges. Some of our most exciting moments were when we were invited to the White House by Michelle Obama to acknowledge those of us in fashion whose pieces she had worn. After 2010 with Instagram and other social media platforms we had to adapt to an oversaturated market of jewelry designers. We navigated the fine line between staying true to ourselves being commercial. One of our earliest goals was to have our pieces in a museum. We achieved that goal this year when we were included in three museum shows.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Mexico – Contramar for lunch
Trip to the Pyriamids
Night at the Lucha Libre
Maximo bistro for dinner
La Lagunilla Flea Market
Anthropology Museum
OMR Gallery
Kurimanzuto Gallery
Ryo Kan Hotel
San Angel Inn for a beautiful lunch and the best margaritas
Frida Kahlo House
Niddo for a delicious breakfast
Onora Casa for gifts
Rosetta for lunch or dinner
Tokyo Music Bar
M.N. Roy for a late night fun
Tepoztlán for a weekend or day trip

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We would love to give a shoutout to Maestro Reyes Batalla who worked with us from the start of our brand and who passed away January 2021 from Covid. His commitment and creativity contributed to a beautiful collaboration. He continues to be missed.

Website: www.anndraneen.com

Instagram: @anndraneen

Twitter: Anndraneen

Facebook: Anndra Neen

Image Credits
Eric T. White – red and blue portrait Harpers Bazaar – model with brass Anndra Neen cuff Anndra Neen images