Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1529936
Perfect Symmetry Jewelry designer María José Lopez finds a home in Houston. T he first time I met her, she was wearing a $66,000, six-carat emerald suspended in an asymmetrical bezel, glistening from the wide gold choker around her neck. The gem was bold, the design unconventional — exactly the kind of statement piece that makes you stop in your tracks. I thought it was magnificent. But after getting to know María José Lopez, I realized that what captivated me wasn't just the jewel. It was her. As she explained to me over coffee, "Stones hold energy. The person either carries the jewelry, or the jewelry carries them." In her case, it is clear: She carries the jewelry. Born in Guadalajara, she had made artistic waves from Los Angeles to New York before settling in Houston almost two years ago. But her arrival in Houston was anything but glamorous. Eight months pregnant, she relocated with her then- boyfriend, and, as she candidly puts it, "It was rough." Yet it seems as if her life has been a series of serendipitous events, divinely orchestrated to bring her to this very moment. She didn't begin as a jewelry designer. That spark was ignited by chance. She had owned an art gallery in Los Angeles, but taking a jewelry-design class in TriBeCa one summer changed her trajectory forever. After completing the course, she promptly packed her bags, left her gallery behind, and moved to New York for the next six years. It was through a connection at W magazine that her career truly catapulted, leading to her first trunk show with Moda Operandi in 2014. Lopez's aesthetic is much like the woman herself: vibrant, organic, and a little raw. Working primarily with diamonds and emeralds, she crafts bespoke pieces for a global clientele, as well as for boutiques such as Max in Aspen or The Conservatory in Dallas. She infuses her jewelry pieces with a distinct sense of authenticity. mariajosejewelry.com. Francine Ballard Emerald and diamond choker Clarity charm María José Lopez In the Kno S t y l i s h F r a n c i n e B a l l a r d epitomizes being "in the know," so her latest venture — clothing line The Kno — is aptly named. Ballard debuted the collection, which she describes as luxeleisure, at Tootsies and at a trunk show at a private River Oaks home. Ballard, whose most recent pioneering startup was blockchain- based jewelry brand Metagolden (carried by Moda Operandi and Fred Segal), found that changing clothes multiple times for her daily pursuits — business meetings, tennis matches, and mom duties — conflicted with her busy schedule, so she created a luxurious, sustainable collection designed to be worn all day, suitable for myriad occasions. Ballard, style editor at large at PaperCity, knew s h e c o u l d b r i n g her technological prowess to the fashion i n d u s t r y. B r a n d product images were created with advanced AI tools, and The Kno will leverage social selling and loyalty programs. The first collection includes monochromatic twin sets in four fabrics (silk, lightweight knit, performance s t r e t c h , a n d C u p ro ) a n d sophisticated neutral colors (camel, burgundy, stone, black, navy, olive, and white). Price ranges are an accessible $125 to $295, and The Kno has introduced a re-commerce program, enabling customers to trade in previous purchases for new. "Trade-ins are then donated to local charities supporting women's education and empowerment," Ballard says. "It's about elevating lives and reducing our carbon footprint at the same time." The Kno, at Tootsies, thekno.io; @the__kno. Anne Lee Phillips 20