"My love for design and creating beauty started early in life, as my
mother instilled in me her passion for fine, hand-embroidered linens
and luxury textiles, and a keen interest in the history of the decorative
arts and jewelry. I vividly remember our weekly outings to the open
air markets of Geneva, Switzerland — we would spend hours
scouring the purveyors' stalls looking for hidden treasures, finding
exquisite laces, embroidered textiles, antique beads, jewelry and the
fascinating stories that came with each piece. "
- Andrea Gutierrez
With a background in art, an eye for the sublime, an eco-savvy ethos, and skills long lost in today's automated, mass-production world, Andrea Gutierrez combines finesse, talent and technique to create her exquisite jewelry and accessories.
~ Gutierrez Couture Cuffs ~
Each Gutierrez Couture Cuff is painstakingly fashioned by hand using
antique cut metal and seed beads, gemstones, Swarovski® crystals,
vintage ornament, gold, silver and found objects, all carefully curated
for their beauty, patina and splendor. The cuffs evolve organically,
as Andrea embroiders layers of tiny brilliants, chains, metallics and
gems onto a heavy silk base. The result is a luxe encrusted effect,
stunning for both its unmatched workmanship, texture and luster.
Every Gutierrez Couture Cuff is one of a kind in design and array of
materials, and intended to be cherished like a fine painting or other
work of art.
~ In Search of the Perfect Patina~
Like the ruins of great architecture, fashion has its divine detritus,
and Andrea has an uncanny talent for spotting beauty in the dustiest
of bins and backrooms. She tirelessly trawls flea markets, thrift
stores, estate sales and antique sellers searching out vintage
beaded purses, clothing, shoes and other embellished objects.
After disassembling their components, she brings new life to these
recycled treasures through inspiration, artistic vision and hours of
intricate handwork.
~ Gutierrez Leathers ~
Andrea's Leathers further demonstrate her infinite talent for creating
limited edition, hand wrought accessories that are both on-trend,
yet timeless. Offered as the Gutierrez diffusion range, the Leathers
define a hip artisan esthetic, rendered in the highest quality hides,
skins, metals, jewels and beads. They can be layered, worn solo, or
mixed with luxe pieces for a hi-lo look.
Andrea makes her Leathers by upcycling scraps sourced from
tanneries, upholstery stores, belt manufacturers, and an antique book
restorer in New York City. The decorative elements of her leather
cuffs are cast from actual antique and vintage buttons and found
objects Andrea has collected since she was a young girl in Europe.
Each piece is hand sewn and assembled, one at a time, making it a
collectible, unique object to wear and love for years to come.