Fernando Jorge Opens His First Showroom In NYC
Brazilian jewelry designer Fernando Jorge has opened his first by-appointment salon in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood. Drawn to the gallery district for its creative energy, London-based Jorge wanted a space that would complement his Mayfair showroom. He brought on the Elle Decor A-List firm of Studio Mellone to make it happen. “The brief was to create a home for our collections that felt like an organic, physical expression of the brand” says Jorge, who first collaborated with Mellone on a pop-up space at Bergdorf Goodman in 2022. “Andre understands my source of creativity and inspiration, being Brazilian. We both appreciate Brazilian design and the mid-century modernist aesthetic, which is a great counterpoint for my jewelry, which is quite feminine and sometimes delicate.”
Jorge moved to London in his late twenties to study at Central Saint Martins, concentrating in jewelry, ceramics, and furniture, disciplines that “have evolved alongside human needs and aspirations over centuries,” he says. He launched his eponymous line in 2011 and has become known for his relaxed, intuitive designs, such as the “Stream” earrings recently worn by Brazilian Oscar nominee Fernanda Torres on the red carpet.
The New York showroom expresses the brand identity through a now-signature mix of mahogany and green suede. “That green was inspired by my first showroom in London,” says Jorge. “When I moved into the space there was an old safe inside that I fell in love with, and its interior was finished in this shade of green. I took inspiration from that to develop our visual universe and to create our packaging.”
Mellone evolved the look and feel of the Chelsea showroom by referencing the iconic work of Joaquim Tenreiro. “We wanted to recreate some of the London space, letting the display cases be a repeating motif, while adding a mix of other things that reflect the warmth and ease of the brand,” says Mellone. “The most important thing was to create an interesting but neutral background for the jewelry.”
To that end, Mellone worked in an earthy palette of dark wood tones, sisal rugs, and mustard textiles, incorporating select furnishings by Brazilian designer Juliana Vasconcellos; art from Mendes Wood, including works by Daniel Steegmann Mangrané and Paulo Monteiro; and paper floral installations by Sourabh Gupta.
The finished space feels “welcoming,” says Jorge—a meeting place that invites conversation and discovery. “We want our clients and friends to immerse themselves in a way that they couldn't before.” Now, all that’s left to do is dive in.
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