We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Philippe Vergez about their original and creative Statement Choker design work. Philippe Vergez is an award-winning fashion designer, that makes our world a better place with their original statement choker works.
Philippe Vergez ("PV") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work The Roaring Lion Statement Choker. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
PV : This piece was designed for artist and philanthropist Qymira, to honor her elegance, strength, and unmistakable presence while on tour in the UK. The Roaring Lion Choker embodies duality, fierce and graceful, majestic and intimate. Inspired by the lion not just as a symbol of royalty and courage, but as a reflection of Qymira’s commanding stage presence and quiet resilience offstage, it channels her voice, roaring when it must, whispering when it wants. Crafted as a tribute, it became a statement of empowerment, protection, and untamed beauty.
PV : My main focus was to create a piece that would transcend ornament, something that could speak. The goal was to embody the force and fragility of Qymira’s presence into a wearable sculpture, capturing a voice that roars for justice and sings for peace. I wanted the choker to feel like armor and poetry at once, a tribute, but also a talisman. It had to reflect identity, not just style.
PV : The Roaring Lion Choker will be auctioned to raise funds for the One Gaia Foundation, an initiative created and financed by Qymira to support children in need around the world. It’s a deeply personal gesture: a piece designed in her image, now set to serve her mission. This is where art becomes a bridge, between beauty and purpose, between strength and care. The choker’s roar, once a tribute to her spirit, now becomes a voice for those who need to be heard most.
PV : From the first sketch to the final piece, the Roaring Lion Choker took four months to complete. Every detail, from the curve of the silhouette to the precision of the roar, was carefully refined. While the concept came intuitively, translating that emotion into form, and balancing strength with grace, took time. It was not just about making a jewel, it was about capturing a presence.
PV : This was not a commissioned piece in the traditional sense, it was born from inspiration and admiration. The Roaring Lion Choker was created as a unique piece for Qymira, who represents our brand worldwide. Her presence, her mission, and her inner fire inspired every line of the design. It was a tribute, not just to her, but to what she stands for: strength with purpose, elegance with edge.
PV : We do not plan to lease or license the design to any third party. As of now, it remains a unique piece. We may eventually add it to our own catalogue, with profits directed to the One Gaia Foundation. Given the nature of the choker, a high-value, statement creation, we do not anticipate mass production or widespread sales. Its purpose is more symbolic than commercial.
PV : I wanted to create something that would embody strength and elegance in equal measure, a sculptural tribute that could be worn. The lion, as a symbol, carries ancestral weight. In Qymira, I saw that same mix of power and grace, and it felt natural to design a piece that roars without shouting.
PV : No. This piece was entirely born from personal inspiration and the connection I have with Qymira, no outside influence or reference guided the design.
PV : This is a unique piece , not made for a market, but for a muse. If ever reproduced, it would still speak to a very specific kind of person: someone who embraces boldness, soul, and meaning in what they wear.
PV : Its uniqueness, not just in form, but in intention. It is not a lion-shaped ornament. It is a lion’s spirit captured in metal and set close to the voice. It’s not meant to be trendy. It’s meant to last.
PV : The name Roaring Lion Choker came naturally. The lion is both a protector and a voice, the roar represents power, presence, and the echo of Qymira’s own mission. The name is literal, symbolic, and intimate all at once.
PV : The first sketches were made with pen and pad. Later, I used Adobe Illustrator for vector refinement and Rhino for the technical 3D modeling. But the soul of the piece was there from the start, on paper.
PV : Its soul. It carries more than design, it carries meaning, love, a mission, and identity. The lion doesn’t only sit on the neck. It watches, it protects, it speaks.
PV : I worked closely with my partner, Evgeny Sukhov, jeweler and gemologist, who brought the piece to life technically. While the design was entirely mine, Evgeny’s expertise made the impossible possible.
PV : The role of technology in this design is very limited, as it is a handmade piece crafted in the tradition of fine jewelry. While I use digital tools to refine ideas and bring them to life, the heart of the design process is deeply rooted in craftsmanship. Each piece is created by hand, focusing on the artistry, skill, and attention to detail that has been passed down through generations. Technology serves as a tool for precision, but the soul of the piece lies in the hands of the artisans who bring it to life.
PV : My designs come from within. There are born from personal experiences, emotions, and stories rather than data or analytical research. I don’t rely on trends or market studies, my process is deeply intuitive, guided by the essence of what I want to express. The research I conduct is more about exploring my own inspirations, memories, and the world around me, whether it’s through music, nature, or moments in time. It’s a process that’s less about numbers and more about feeling and connection.
PV : Achieving both comfort and structure was a technical challenge. The piece had to be wearable yet powerful, a sculpture that moves with the body. Translating the roar into a shape that wasn’t literal yet deeply evocative took time and iteration.
PV : This design felt like a milestone in my creative path. It held meaning, complexity, and beauty, and I wanted to share that beyond our inner circle. The A' Design Award felt like the right platform to celebrate that intention and craftsmanship.
PV : I learned the value of restraint, knowing when to stop. I deepened my trust in the emotional process of design. It reminded me that the most powerful pieces don’t come from trends, but from something much deeper , memory, purpose, love.
PV : Only this: sometimes a piece of jewelry is not a product, it’s a message. This choker was created out of admiration, shaped by intention, and now it will serve a greater cause through the One Gaia Foundation. That’s what design should be: a bridge between art and action.
