Mayeul Reginault, a French multitasking power, satisfies the adage ‘do more of what makes you happy.’ An interior designer by day and jewellery designer by night, his side hustle ‘Mayre’ is evident of his desire for jewellery and design. The collection expresses a free creative spirit wherein the wearer radiates subtle sensuality. His pieces are distinguished for their wafer-thin feature and sheen, giving the jewelry a smooth and sophisticated character.
The trademark of Mayre is the thin sheet of steel from which the jewellery is made, so as to highlight the finesse and move with the curvaceous human body. The resilience of the material and artisanal expertise collectively make Mayre jewellery highly wearable pieces with a signature style to match. Like every piece of jewellery that tells a story, here is Mayeul’s.
You have a hand in designing furniture, interior designing, clothing, footwear, and accessories. Who are you deep down in your heart? A jewellery or furniture designer?
For me, it makes no sense to separate all these fields. I am an industrial designer, which means I pay attention to the subject and body and not the scale so it could be something small-scale like jewellery or large-scale like a house and it wouldn’t make a difference to me. The next important aspect of an object is the meaning, the way it is produced, and the logic in its construction.
Are there any differences and/or similarities between designing furniture and jewellery?
There is definitely a difference in the scale of the detail but in both areas, the human body is central, and the connection between the body and the object is the most important aspect.
What is the story behind your collection?
The pieces of Mayre were born from two opposite universes. The first inspiration for these jewels comes from body painting. Especially from the tribes of the Omo Valley in Ethiopia. There, people still paint themselves on a daily basis as a mode of self-expression, so as to connect and unite themselves for ritual, magical, mystical or religious activities. The result is a panel of fabulous ornamental paintings made from total freedom.
On the other hand, I was able to produce jewellery, thanks to the industrial processes and technical knowledge I had acquired. It is a dialogue between the freedom of a drawing and the technicality of metalwork.
How much is it a reflection of your current life and surroundings?
I wouldn’t say it’s a reflection of my life but more of the way I work. In every project, I tend to let the technicality disappear to let the creative expression in. Even though I like to find solutions to make an object live, it is important that the technique supports the poetic expression.
You design paper-thin jewellery that is flexible and clings onto the human body. How is this achieved in terms of making? Besides steel, can this be accomplished with any other material and will you be working with them too?
The techniques for achieving these kinds of pieces are multiple. The ideal method would depend on the metal used and the shapes of the jewel. I use chemical cutting for the main pieces, which facilitates a lot of precision in such thin pieces. I use stainless steel – a metal that is key to these pieces of jewellery as it offers a good ratio of flexibility to thinness.
I am looking for new ways to produce new kinds of pieces with other materials and cutting processes, but it is still in development right now.
What is the most important thing you have learned about yourself, fashion, or the industry since starting Mayre?
I developed the brand Mayre without any pressure in terms of timing or fitting into a specific market. It is a project that I work on for the pleasure of conceiving and working with partners to make it real. Thus, if you work with honesty and passion, people understand your intentions and you get surrounded by partners who want to share their passion too.
You have 4 points of sale and an online presence. What else are you doing for the future of your brand?
I plan on continuing to develop new shapes and extend the collection. And I would like to propose the products to a few more selected retailers to give a bit more visibility to the brand.
What has been the most difficult aspect of getting your brand off the ground and how did you overcome that?
The hardest part is always to find the time to make a project come true. The gap between the first prototypes and the launch to the market is huge and requires a lot of passion and personal investment. In the end, you really need to want it badly, because it is a long road.
What are the two aspects of business in which you believe a new brand should invest resources?
I think it depends a lot on the type of brand, but as I am more invested in the creative parts, I naturally believe that innovation and creative language are the points to focus on. We don’t need new products, we need more sense and smart creation.
How effectively do you think AISPI fits into this space?
AISPI is a big help in the curation of brands by revealing the ones that have sincere projects with honest values that fit in our era regarding the way they are produced.
If you like your money where you can see it, on your fingers and around your neck, it is worth checking out Mayre jewellery.
– Written by Sureka Naven
For more unique and sophisticated European brands and designers, follow AISPI on our Instagram and Blog.