Two Venezuelan Designers Channeled Zoom Calls and Vintage Glassware Into a Minimalist Earring

 

Gil Rodriguez, known for outfitting Angelenos in stretchy leotards and fleeces long before "cozy chic" became the uniform of working from home, began exploring new avenues. Denim and fuzzy fleeces were added to her collection, but it was a partnership with Sordo-whom she first met at a Paris dinner party years ago-that allowed her to think beyond apparel.

 

 

 

“We always had this idea of working together because we admire each other’s style, but when we actually started talking about the collaboration, I was like, ‘This is going to work out perfectly,’” Sordo recalls. The duo, who share both Venezuelan roots and a minimalist design philosophy, quickly landed on earrings as the natural starting point. Sordo is renowned for her door-knocker styles, while Gil Rodriguez often sports bold vintage versions-images of which made it onto their shared mood board alongside photos of glassware from the 1950s to 70s.

 

The result, born from countless Voice Memos, WhatsApp messages, and FaceTime sessions, is a bean-like 24-karat gold-plated brass ear sculpture. It features a dangling ball accent and a trio of semi-precious stones. “I really wanted something that was going to be a statement without being too large,” Gil Rodriguez explains of the design, which, much like her own high-end basics, transitions seamlessly from day to night.

 

The capsule collection, now available for pre-order, was hand-crafted in Sordo’s Fair Trade-certified workshop in Peru-a country hit hard by the pandemic. “It slowed down the process,” Sordo admits, “but it was worth the wait because we’re really happy with the outcome.”

 

The designs have already passed the test of a stylish social circle. At a celebratory al fresco dinner party in the Hollywood Hills this past weekend, the earrings were on full display. Actress Laura Harrier wore the sunset-inspired white onyx, granite, and red jasper version, while model and chef Eleonore Toulin paired the onyx style with a clingy Gil Rodriguez dress-a look mirrored in the collection’s lookbook, shot by Drew Escriva.

 

The enthusiasm from friends was immediate. “Others ordered multiple pairs so they could mix and match color combinations,” Sordo shares, adding with a smile: “Maybe we’ll do a rainbow one next!”