ANTHONY GIOVANNI DEANE
On Brutalism, Music and Avec Amour
There are certain objects that stay with us forever. Not because of their value, but because of the memories, people and emotions attached to them. The Avec Amour collection, created in conversation with Anthony Giovanni Deane and his sister Kelly Rutherford, was born exactly from that feeling.
Avec Amour Part III
We met in Paris last year to launch our first design together: the Avec Amour Necklace. Pleased by the success of our design, we decided to extend the collection. First with an earring, adding even more of Kelly’s aesthetic to it, and now with a bracelet where Anthony’s taste takes the overhand. While designing the piece, several elements were important to us. We wanted to create something that could become a family heirloom, blending Kelly’s timeless elegance with Anthony’s brutalist and rock-and-roll aesthetics.
The first Avec Amour necklace was deeply inspired by a personal story. How did it all begin?
The first Avec Amour necklace was deeply inspired by a personal story. How did it all begin?
Anthony: Originally, when we first met, we started throwing ideas around and speaking about pieces that had stayed with us throughout our lives.
My mom had this necklace when I was growing up that I was obsessed with. I used to steal it from her and wear it for months on end when I was playing in bands. Later on, I discovered it was connected to César Baldaccini. It had this melted, sculptural feeling to it, very late ’60s, early ’70s.
I’ve always loved Brutalism and pieces from that era of design, so that inspiration always stayed in my head. When we started creating together, it felt natural to reinterpret that feeling into something new. Not to recreate it exactly, but to capture the same emotion and spirit.
The collection feels very personal and emotional. Was that important from the beginning?
Completely. The things that inspire you and become part of your everyday life naturally evolve into something creative. That’s what happened here. And then there’s the family aspect of it too. My mom was a huge inspiration to both me and Kelly aesthetically. She was always ahead of us, introducing us to music, designers, artists… she shaped a lot of our visual world growing up. So when we started working on Avec Amour, it immediately felt like something born out of love and family.
You can feel different aesthetics inside the collection. Kelly brings this timeless elegance while your side feels more raw and rock-and-roll. How would you describe that balance?
You can feel different aesthetics inside the collection. Kelly brings this timeless elegance while your side feels more raw and rock-and-roll. How would you describe that balance?
I think that contrast is what makes it interesting. I’ve always loved statement pieces, things you can just throw on that become part of your identity or your vibe. Pieces that almost become an everyday extension of yourself. The bracelet especially feels more connected to my aesthetic. It has a certain ease to it. You can wear it every day, but it still makes a statement.
Music also seems to influence the way you approach design and creativity.
Music also seems to influence the way you approach design and creativity.
Definitely. Music has probably been one of the biggest loves of my life. I still play almost every day, usually in my living room with an acoustic guitar. Music is a frequency, and creativity is a frequency too. Certain songs completely transport you somewhere else. They change your mood, your state of mind, and that naturally influences creativity as well.
Which artists or musicians shaped your world growing up?
Which artists or musicians shaped your world growing up?
It starts with The Rolling Stones. Mick and Keith are hard to beat. I’m also a huge Miles Davis fan, Kind of Blue is probably one of the greatest albums ever made. But I also love electronic music. Justice and Daft Punk were huge influences. Spending time in Europe really changed my relationship with music too. There’s something about the electronic scene there, especially in places like Greece or Mykonos, that feels very immersive.
Your visual language also feels very European somehow. Has your taste evolved over the years?
Absolutely. When you’re younger, you’re experimenting with everything. Over time your taste becomes more focused and more refined. I think my style definitely became more European over the years. France, Italy, Greece… there’s such a culture of aesthetics and attention to detail there. I moved away from maximalism toward something softer and more understated. Less excess, more simplicity.
What do you hope people feel when wearing an Avec Amour piece?
What do you hope people feel when wearing an Avec Amour piece?
I hope it becomes part of their story. Something they wear every day, something that stays with them over time. The best objects are the ones that carry memories and emotion. That’s what we wanted this collection to feel like.
