The Goal Chaser: Akillis’ Caroline Gaspard On Being Fearless, Determined And, Just Like Her Brand, Invincible…
Bazaar Arabia sits down with the founder of French fine jewellery brand, to discuss warriors, weaknesses and wanting to win at all costs
There’s an energy about her that is simply contagious… upbeat, self-assured and, most importantly, interesting – Caroline Gaspard is the kind of person you want to be seated next to at a dinner party. Someone who you could spend hours chatting with on a warm evening, which is exactly what happened when we met on the Palm Jumeirah to talk about her fine jewellery brand, Akillis.
It was golden hour, just a few moments before the sun melted into the sea. Caroline produced a pouch that contained a few of her most exquisite creations and I took delight in trying on bracelet after bracelet, ring after ring, the diamonds sparkling brilliantly in the warm light. Black-gold bangles adorned with onyx-hued stones; his and her bands that seamlessly fit together like puzzle pieces. The rocker-chic spirit infused within the DNA of the French fine jewellery brand complemented my all-black attire perfectly; I didn’t want to take any of it off, the pieces felt so natural against my skin.
Caroline is petite and blonde, with the sassy energy of a pixie crossed with the sophistication of a Parisienne femme fatale; small, but mighty is a fitting way to describe her, right down to her confidence and the power she’s committed to instilling within Akillis.
“It’s very spontaneous,” she says, when I ask her about how she comes up with fresh ideas for new collections, while staying true to the essence of the brand – rebellious and edgy, but eternally chic. “I always have a general idea, which is the most important part – and then we have to work on it to make it possible, a reality.”
There’s power in knowing what one wants, both as an entrepreneur and creative soul. Caroline is laser-focused on her goals; however taking a leap of faith so often comes with the risk of failure. When she founded Akillis back in 2007, at the tender age of 25, was she scared it would fail?
“Since my childhood, I’ve never been afraid of anything,” she states in a matter-of-fact tone. “The first year was tiring, because I was almost [doing it] on my own, trying to build a DNA – and I don’t like to compromise.”
Akillis began its journey with a men’s collection, filling an outstanding gap in the fine jewellery market. Caroline’s soon-to-be competitors – “the big ones” she calls them, referring to the established fine jewellery houses with century-old legacies – eventually caught wind of the up-and-coming brand, shaking the market up with its rock’n’roll-esque pieces.
“They wanted to do the thing we did,” Caroline says, leaning in to tell me a story about the time she found out via a friend’s husband that one very notable luxury house was “a bit afraid” of Akillis, keeping a watchful eye on the new enfant terrible of the jewellery world. “When you frighten the ‘big ones’ you’re on the right [track] and in the right place.”
While each one of the brand’s respective collections plays upon a different theme, elements of geometry, rock‘n’roll and love are at the heart of every piece, from the inaugural Bang Bang right through to Capture Me. However, Akillis’ most influential muse comes in the form of a Greek diety, the one the brand was named after: Achilles.
And why did she decide to name her jewellery brand after the Grecian hero? “He is the greatest warrior of all time – and when I have a goal, I go straight for it. I want to achieve it. I always want to win. I fight,” Caroline says, alluding to similarities between herself and the Trojan War protagonist, his infamous weakness and human desire. “Diamonds and jewels are a weakness for everybody.”
As we wrap up, I ask her how, exactly, does she want people to feel when wearing Akillis? Caroline pauses for a moment, mulling over the question, before smiling. “Invincible.” Small, but mighty, indeed.
For more information, visit akillis.com