Nicole Gagne was born in Montpelier, Vermont, the capital of the northeast, as far as she’s concerned.  She grew up in a place that thrives on creativity and diversity, focused on nature. She had two great loves as a child, being outdoors and making art.  Her love of tools was born out of time spent with her dad in his workshop, watching him refurbish his vintage cars.   At an early age she discovered her talent for invention by knowing which tools were used for what and constantly exploring the limitations of materials.

Nature was her first chapter; culture was her second when she moved to NYC in 1990 to attend Parson’s School of Design.  She thrived in the downtown scene of the nineties, absorbing everything and barely sleeping between school, museums and nightlife.  With a degree in metalsmithing in hand, She then immersed herself in the fashion industry, designing for accessories companies and higher end jewelers, where she picked up an astute business knowledge and honed in her innate sense of style.

‘Process dictates the outcome’ is a statement that emphatically describes the love she has with making each piece by hand.  As a jewelry designer, the nostalgia of her home state is the basis for the fresh approach she takes with design, but her work is conceived around the environmental influence of the city that continues to inspire. Her reverence for nature and culture imbues the asymmetrical balance that is often described of her work. This duality is what makes Nicole’s  jewelry energetic and unique.