Style Pooh-Bahs Q&A: Satu and Celeste Greenberg of Tuleste

Since launching their collection Tuleste in 2008, jewelry design sister duo, Satu and Celeste Greenberg have created some buzz with their eye-catching collection of statement necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings. Designs from the New York City-based brand have been regularly featured in top international fashion publications from Elle, to W and spotted on trendsetting style icons such as Rihanna, M.I.A., and Alexa Chung. The collection can be found in select stores worldwide including Shopbop, Joan Shepp (in Philadelphia), and ZOZOVILLA in Japan.

The designers of Tuleste were so kind as to answer a few of my questions from what inspires them to what’s to come!

Naima Turner:  What inspired you as a sister duo to create your collection, Tuleste?

Tuleste: Growing up in a rural Northern California town, we loved the amazing vintage & thrift stores, and were always on the lookout for unexpected finds. After moving to New York, we helped produce fashion shows for Jason Wu, Derek Lam, Carolina Herrera and Peter Som.  We also began creating distinctive pieces of jewelry that caught the eye of both fellow designers and models. Word began to spread to industry friends, including stylists, models and other members of the style cognoscenti, and by 2008 the Tuleste business was officially born.

Naima Turner: Who would you describe as the Tuleste girl?

Tuleste: One who isn’t afraid to express her individuality – no matter her age or aesthetic. We’re big believers in personal style and creativity, and try to bring that to our designs. At one of our trunk shows a few years ago, a teenage girl purchased one of our classic heart necklaces and then 15 minutes later, an 80-year-old woman came and left with the same one!

Naima Turner: Your pieces have such a fun, youthful vibe to them! What materials are used when creating your designs? 

Tuleste: We like to experiment with mixed metals: this past fall, we played around with gold, gunmetal and rosegold. For our spring season, we’re still doing our classic metallics but adding some fun enamels to the mix.

Naima Turner: I love the idea that your jewelry is multi-functional and can be worn in multiple ways when layered together. What inspired you to take this approach with your designs? 

Tuleste: Accessories, jewelry in particular, are the finishing, defining touches to an outfit, but are also expected to do a lot of the work. You can wear accessories over and over for days in a row. We take this into account when designing and always try to discover new ways the Tuleste girl can wear her pieces. For instance, clipping two necklaces together creates a longer chain look or even an incredible belt. We want our customers to get creative with our jewelry to encourage the full scope of their style!

Naima Turner: I hear that the two of you have done costuming for three leads of a film called, Ass Backwards that’s expected to make its debut at the Sundance Film Festival. How exciting! Did you use your jewelry in the film?

Tuleste: We not only used a ton of Tuleste in the film, but also did select wardrobe and costume design for the leads Casey Wilson & June Diane Raphael with a cameo from the epic Alicia Silverstone.

Naima Turner: What can we expect to see in your Spring 2013 collection?

Tuleste: For spring, we’re introducing new, more whimsical designs like our ladder, bow, and seashell pieces as well as beautiful hand enamel detail in playful spring colors. We have moved all of our production exclusively to the US, working with a specialty factory in Providence, so we’re super excited to have this seasons’ designs come out. We’re in love with saying our collection is now 100% made in America.