The birth of éliou has been entirely organic since its inception. Éliou started as a hobby where we designed jewellery we wanted to wear ourselves and later evolved into a platform where we can now express all of our creative impulses. Our friendship and business relationship have always been tied together by an intimate interest in design and working with our hands. From the start, we’ve considered ourselves lucky to work together. It’s easier to go through the ebbs and flows of running a business when you have someone to lean on or when battling an obstacle. It makes the entire experience more enjoyable and creatively productive.

Perseverance is key. Push through challenging times and continue to believe in your instinct. Do not deviate from that or you’ll find yourself falling into the already overcrowded pool of imitation and predictability.

To capture the return of a craved season filled with long days in the sun and the freedom to be outside, we designed pieces that can take you from breakfast to the beach. This capsule is an ode to the souvenirs you collect as you travel; optimistic, exuberant and mood-lifting necklaces meant to be layered while sitting sea-side. Keeping a practical-to-fun approach we stuck to what we do best, mixing traditional materials such as freshwater pearls juxtaposing playful, nostalgic beads.

The drive to Careyes was a helpful reminder that you’re escaping to another world. After a long drive, you find yourself inside what feels like a hidden town, surrounded by an enclave of layered houses in a color palette of burnt oranges and dusty pinks. As new mother’s to an ever-growing baby such as éliou, we often get caught up with the daily responsibilities required to run this business. Careyes allowed us a moment to slow down and reflect on how far we have come. It was a reprieve from the daily hustle to have a tête-à-tête with ourselves under an umbrella in sun-touched salty skin.

After recently going vegan we made our journey to Careyes under the pretence that we’d be limited and not diving into a “culinary experience.” Much to our surprise, one of the four restaurants in town was thankfully vegan-friendly, serving a dish we ordered almost every day: an open-faced crunchy tortilla topped with an almond curry paste and julienned carrots soaked in some delicious but mysterious sauce.

Two books, sunscreen, headphones, chapstick and a Hydroflask

This summer we’ll be carbon copies of Jean Bergs from Bonjour Tristesse by Otto Preminger. We re-watched the movie during a time when the idea of a vacation was nothing but a dream and it left a big mark on us. In the movie Bergs spends her summer in the French Riviera dressed in one-pieces and layered button-downs. Different scenes show her in gingham prints, ballerina slip-ons, and wicker baskets for handbags (long before Jane Birkin in La Piscine). You’ll be sure to find us in some iteration of this for the next few months.

Inspired through and through by Bonjour Tristesse exploring the French Riviera is naturally top of the list. Our ideal version of this trip includes driving down the coast in swimsuits and pareos, stopping at every beach and bakery along the way.

“Morena” - Gilberto Gil