Interview with Suzanne by In Holland Design

BLOG POST IN HOLLAND DESIGN August 2019

The aluminium jewellery by CLIC by Suzanne is surprising in its simplicity. The powerful geometric shapes continue to fascinate due to an emphatic modesty in design. Designer Suzanne Schaars opts for a modern choice of materials when designing her jewellery, she only designs with aluminium, stainless steel and magnets. Furthermore, Suzanne works from two principles; her aluminium jewellery is very comfortable to wear and has an invisible clasp. Her company CLIC Creations recently moved and a lot of new designs have been added. All the more reason to ask Suzanne again about her plans and where all those successful ideas come from

We immediately get straight to the point in the new studio and asked Suzanne Schaars, creator and designer of the aluminum jewelry from CLIC by Suzanne, about her plans and secrets.

Congratulations on the new studio! What was the reason for a new studio? And what are you most happy about in your new studio?

Thank you! We are indeed happy with the new studio. It is newer in every way and I am especially happy that we use these spaces more efficiently but also the location is more favorable for us. Just even shorter travel times.

A new environment often brings new inspiration or even a completely different vision. Where do you get your inspiration for your aluminum jewelry? And has the new studio indeed contributed to new inspiration?

Of course changes have a lot of influence on your inspiration. And this move also gives me a lot of new ideas for designs. Actually I have too many new designs and then it is a challenge every time to pick out the most beautiful designs that complement the collection even better.

What is your vision on making aluminum jewelry? And what makes your jewelry special?

My jewelry is there to empower the wearer. They already got that function when in prehistoric times we hung a bone or tooth of an animal that we had caught as a symbol of our achievement. Jewelry is there to support your own identity, but jewelry is also very important as a reminder of special, fun and sad moments. Every piece of jewelry always has a story about why someone wears it and that makes my job so interesting.

My vision of the designs is that no conventional closures are used and the ornament is also the closure. The ingenuity, the surprise and the play of creative intelligence makes CLIC by Suzanne special.

How did your vision ever come about? Who or what influenced this?

I wanted to design my “own” collection and was always searching for my own signature. I wanted to make special jewelry, that would surprise with originality and the power of omission. I found that style when I was commissioned to make an aluminum bracelet. A material that was foreign to me as a goldsmith and forced me to look differently at connections and jewelry style. The lightweight aluminum invites you to work in a completely different way and offers new possibilities, but also limitations that require original solutions. I took on that challenge and that turned out to be the beginning of something very beautiful!

What is the process for designing a piece of jewelry and where did you learn it?

Designing a CLIC by Suzanne piece of jewellery is mainly about letting go and thinking first and then doing. The art of leaving things out is very important for the design language within the collection. I think I have learned it over the years. You don't learn this at school but simply by looking around you a lot and developing your own taste and style. I also listen to my customers a lot, because they are ultimately the most important "teachers" in the entire process.

We know that you followed your training for designing jewelry at the vocational school in Schoonhoven. Why did you choose this training and do you have any tips for school leavers or future students of the vocational school what they should or should not do?

I attended Schoonhoven after I had stopped studying financial economics in Amsterdam. As a hobby, I had been making jewelry my whole life. In Amsterdam, I learned the basics of goldsmithing in Jaap Vries' studio. I had just come from Africa at the age of 24 and did not know what I wanted, so I started at the Vakschool. It was easy for me and that also made me enjoy designing outside the traditional route. As a tip, I can say "don't wait until you know exactly what you want. Going for it is enough."

What classes or teachers did you learn the most from and why? What was your favorite subject at vocational school?

"Wow, that was a long time ago"! I really liked spatial design, but that's also because I always got high ratings for it while I did very little before that😉. And what I remember was a goldsmith teacher, Hankart, he is now retired, who helped everyone with the patience of an angel to achieve the most beautiful result.

After your education at the Schoonhoven vocational school, you left for Dallas (US). What did you learn there? And how does this come back in your work?

In Dallas I learned above all not to do everything myself. There I was the designer who drew on paper what the customer wanted. I designed the largest jewels full of brilliants, emeralds and sapphires. That had to be finished within 1 week so I was also the linchpin between the diamond dealer, goldsmith and the customer. There was a lot possible there if it went fast. I hesitated to stay but had worked out the idea for the CLIC collection just before I left and wanted to set it up from the Netherlands.

We see your entrepreneurial spirit and passion for technology in your aluminum jewelry. Where does your passion for technology come from?

I don't see myself as a techie. I do find it a challenge to make my jewelry as smart as possible. That technology is involved is a logical consequence.

What was your first real own design? Did this design come about during your education? What did people think of that design and what do you think of that design yourself when you look back on it now?

The bracelet A1, which is also sold at Holland Design & Gifts! The basis of this collection was an assignment I received to make a bracelet in aluminum. I came up with this design, but it was impossible to implement because I could not invisibly incorporate the clasp. If it had been visible, the shape would not have been so beautiful. Only later, by chance, did I come up with the idea of ​​putting magnets in between, which still provided the invisible clasp.

Did you immediately 'click' to call your collection 'CLIC' or did you hire a professional advertising agency for this?

No! The first years I worked under a completely different name. My husband had the idea to use the name CLIC because the first design consists of 2 C shapes, which close together with a click sound. In short C+C=CLIC

Your company was first called Clic Creations. You changed that to Clic by Suzanne a few years ago. Why did you make that decision and does this name change contribute to your success?

My company is still called CLIC Creations, but we have given the aluminium jewellery collection a different name, because this name was better protected internationally.

The jewelry is made by you and your employees in the Netherlands. How many employees do you currently employ? And how important is it to you that the jewelry is handmade and made in the Netherlands?

I work together with a goldsmith, Chantal. She is helped by an on-call worker during busy times. Together we actually run everything. Chantal orders and production. I do the sales and work together with a number of specialists, who I hire when I need them. I have always kept CLIC in my own studio, because that makes the collection much more special and also because it allows us to continue working sustainably and qualitatively.

CLIC jewelry fits every occasion. Is this also the goal when you create a design?

Yes, I do! I design large and small aluminum jewelry and want everyone to be able to wear it whenever they want.

Do you wear your jewelry yourself? If so, what is your favorite? If not, why not?

Nowadays I wear something from my own collection every day, but when I'm in the studio the rings and bracelets come off. My favorite at the moment is a long necklace, which has been out of the collection for a long time. And I always wear the rings - one size fits all - so they often change fingers because you can easily change their size. You can soon buy these one-size-fits-all rings at Holland Design & Gifts.

You have developed yourself into one of the most famous Dutch jewelry designers and you are still developing yourself and your brand. What are your future plans for CLIC?

I find this questioning a great compliment! I will automatically continue to make new designs, but the biggest challenge is to make the collection even more well-known to a larger audience. It would be great if the collection continues to develop after me.

Do you have any tips for young Dutch design talent?

“Never give up, enjoy the whole process and don't overdo it!”

Thank you Suzanne. We got to know you a lot better and you made us curious about what is coming. We hope we have inspired our readers, because we think that your aluminum jewelry is very special to receive and give as a gift and that the CLIC has not yet been discovered by everyone.