
Monique Péan
eco-jewelry designer
Growing up, Monique Péan's dad encouraged her to consider becoming "3 things: a doctor, a lawyer, or a banker." Her younger sister's sudden death made her rethink her life. Leaving behind a lucrative Wall Street career, Monique took a risk to launch her jewelry line. She shaped her dream, evolving those first modest jewelry creations into a business that reflects her passions for art, travel and environmentalism. Her pieces feature stunning place-based designs driven by a commitment to sustainable materials, practices + philanthropic initiatives.
Following her heart has paid off. Monique's lux creations are a fixture of high fashion and celebrity styles. And, her eco-chic sensibilities are helping to make the whole industry greener.
being an eco-chic visionary | creating a market for sustainable jewelry and emphasis on fair trade + slow design in the industry
"the ultimate cocktail accessories" | jewelry that attracts attention to both exquisite personal style + pressing social issues
philanthropy | contributing to organizations that address the global water crisis
honoring her sister's life + work | carrying on the work of creating educational opportunities for Haitians that her sister started at 16 by running the Vanessa Pean Foundation
adventurous design | annual sourcing + research trips that bring her from glaciers in Alaska to Mayan ruins in Guatemala
celebrity styling | her jewelry has adorned some huge names ~ including Angelina Jolie, Natalie Portman, Kerri Washington, Jennifer Lawrence + Michelle Obama
2006 | put out her 1st collection {in honor of her sister} after leaving Wall Street to start her own fine jewelry line
2009 | recognized as runner-up for the CFDA {council of fashion designers of america} / Vogue Fashion Fund Award and winner of the Ecco Domani Fashion Award
2011 | received the CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund and Tiffany & Co. development grant
from | to
financial analyst at Goldman Sachs | pioneer of the Eco-Jewelry industry
born in
1981
grew up in
Great Falls, Virginia
birth name
Monique Péan
citizen of
The United States of America
daughter of
Gail A. Péan
~ American-born artist, environmentalist and indigenous art collector ~
Jean-Robert Péan
~ Haitian-born economic developer ~
sister of
1 younger sister | Vanessa
~ passed away in a car accident in 2006, which prompted Monique to reevaluate her life + career ~
lives in
New York, New York
educated at
University of Pennsylvania
~ Philadelphia | BA | 2003 ~
loved studying
economics
philosophy
political science
married to
Stephen Carter Glass
~ classmate at Penn | married in Mexico in 2010 ~
advocate for | influenced by | worked alongside
Water: charity
LGBT rights
sustainability
Vanessa Péan Foundation
in her spare time
travels
visits museums
tweets
@MONIQUEPEAN
image credit
collapse bio bits"I aim to create wearable pieces of art that enhance the individual and raise awareness of Native art and culture."
Closet Envy: Jewelry Designer Monique Péan | february 2010
"To me, a successful life is getting up every day, doing something you love, and, most important, making a difference in the world."
Monique Péan Honors Her Sister's Spirit | 2012
"When I began designing, people really weren’t as interested in the sustainable aspects of my designs. They were really just interested in the aesthetics . . . It’s been really exciting to see that change and be part of that change."
Bauble Designer Monique Péan Talks Holiday Wish Lists, S.F. Grub, & More! | december 2012
"If you’re shopping for the guy who has everything, he probably doesn’t have fossilized woolly mammoth cuff links!"
Bauble Designer Monique Péan Talks Holiday Wish Lists, S.F. Grub, & More! | december 2012
"I love the idea that you can take something that old and make it into something new again."
Jurassic Jeweler | spring 2013
"Necklaces and earrings are more for other people, because you have to look in the mirror to see them. Rings, however, are for yourself. I normally wear at least five on a given day, and sometimes six or seven."
Rock of Ages | october 2013
"I would love for collectors to view my pieces as art, history, nature, luxury and fashion all in one. I aim to create heirloom pieces as wearable works of art that can be passed down for generations."
A conversation with: Monique Péan | april 2014
"It’s not necessarily about how long you live but the impact that you make."
Spotlight On...Monique Pean | september 2014
"The fossilised woolly mammoth, walrus tusk and dinosaur bone are like nature’s photographs. A photograph is able to capture a moment in time; fossils capture thousands, if not millions of years."
Spotlight On...Monique Pean | september 2014
"Many artisans across the world practise sustainability in their day-to-day lifestyle; I thought that we had so much to learn from them."
Spotlight On...Monique Pean | september 2014
"Mining just enough gold for one simple wedding band can produce over 20 tons of waste."
Spotlight On...Monique Pean | september 2014
"Jewelry requires the same attention to the details of proportion, form, and materials as architecture."
Etched in Bone: A designer's indelible blueprint for beauty | september 2014
for further reading about Monique Péan:
curated with care by Alicia Williamson & Shelagh Bolger {october 2014}
Monique collaborates with Liya Kebede
In 2010, the fine jeweler took model Liya Kebede to Iceland to shoot her fall collection. Along the way, the 2 philanthropists ended up teaming up for a collection of their own to raise funds for Liya's foundation. All proceeds of their scrimshaw + gold rings and necklaces go towards improving maternal + newborn health in Africa.
Monique Pean | Barney's
© all rights reserved
Vogue Fashion Fund Runner Up, Monique Pean
Monique describes the core inspirations, concepts + principles behind her fine jewelry line.
Kate Michael
Monique and a necklace from her K'atan collection.
Monique launched her K'atan collection ~ inspired by a trek to Mayan ruins in Guatemala ~ in the spring of 2013.
Monique Pean via Los Angeles Times
© all rights reserved
Monique Pean Lahnse Collection Fall 2014
The raw materials + elegant geometric structures of Monique's Fall 2014 collection were inspired by her travels in Norway.
Monique Pean | Editorialist