INTRVW: Angela Monaco of Concrete Polish

Angela Monaco recently opened up Concrete Polish, her boutique in Northern Liberties. We stopped through the impressive store last week for an inside look at Monaco's boutique, work & life, while her friend and jewelry designer (her stuff is also sold at Concrete Polish!) Linda Smyth joined us.

( Designers Linda Smyth on the left and Angela Monaco on the right )

Phrequency: When did you first get into jewelry making?

Angela: I first started making jewelry in 2003, and then I stopped for a little bit and got my degree in printmaking. I love print making, but I had some friends who made jewelry and I started making jewelry again. Then I went back to community college and took a few classes and decided to go back to school and I got my certification as bench tooler at Maryland Institute of College of Art. I haven't stopped since then.

P: Do you design your work in collections, or rather as a steady stream of new designs?

A: When you go to art school everything is conceptual and you spend 20 or 30 hours on one project and when you finish, it's like it's the big conceptual piece. When I was in school I started doing casting and that's what really got me to the point I am at now, where I produce a limited production of jewelry and I get it out to different stores and people. I used to design more as ideas came to me, but now that I am getting more into the fashion industry and such I design in collections. A lot of the jewelry here is mine and the other person who sells here is Linda Smyth, who used to own Topstitch. We both have developed different pieces as we went along, but I had this idea for this line called mineral massacre. It started as an idea and artistic approach, I liked crystals and I wanted to make molds of them, and then I started making jewelry with them. Now, this is what I connect to most, and I've developed a whole collection.

Bronze Pineapple Mineral Massacre Rings - $92

P: Would you call Mineral Massacre your first collection?

A: I think so. At first I thought I had three different lines: one was Concrete Polish, one was Indigenous Crown, which has to do a lot with animals and nature, and then Mineral Massacre. Then I decided to name the boutique Concrete Polish, and now it's almost like this is the collection, but then we might have the misfits. I have all these other pieces of jewelry that I have designed, and I love making and selling them, but Mineral Massacre is more what I am getting known for.

P: What inspires you on a day to day basis or when you develop a collection?

A: I am inspired a lot by organic substances, crystals, fashion, and just living my life and doing what I love. I go to see a lot of music; and a lot of my friends give me ideas some of the time. People come up to me often and are like "Hey! You should do this!" and I'm like "You know what? You're right! I should" And then I do it. The people around me are a big source of inspiration as well.

Left:MM vermeil pyrite crystal double rings: $388$573, Right: MM Pineapple Crystal Rings: $171 - $376

P: Do you have a favorite piece that you have designed?

A: These two (references to two rings from the mineral massacre double finger rings). This one is a double ring which is cast from a sharks tooth calcite, which is pretty rare type of crystal, and this one is cast from a bismuth crystal, and it's adjustable. I am trying to make things adjustable is a tasteful way. I obviously really like rings and double rings, so I try to make them versatile. All the mineral massacre stuff is what I connect to most, that's my heart, that's my passion. Lately I have just been designing new pieces for this. Linda has been helping me a lot with this. She's been designing jewelry for a long time too, but she's had a store, so she thinks in terms of business and what sells. I am learning more to concentrate on that, and focusing on central themes instead of being all over the place like a crazy artist. Getting the store started has really helped ground me in that way.

P: What are your favorite materials to use when developing?

A: Lately I just prefer gold. It's gold plated brass. I can cast in anything, but lately my favorite has been gold. I love to wear it as much as I love to design with it.

Rabid Fox bunny love ring: $250, left. Rabid Fox octo ring: $260 right )

P: Do you have anything that inspired the layout of the store, or is it more just personal style and taste?

A: The space, having all natural woodwork as nice, we worked off of that. The couch we have in here is funny, because before I had done anything, I bought the couch and said I have to have this. We painted all these stripes, so it has a nautical, antique feel to it with a little bit of edge. A lot of friends have provided me with some great stuff, and a lot of it came over from Topstitch as well.

P: What reason did you choose this neighborhood to open up your boutique in?

A: Well I was actually looking for more of a studio space when I found this, and I wanted to have a showroom in the front. I was not planning for it to be so much of a retail store, where I had walking traffic come in. Then, I saw this place when I was looking for an apartment, and I was like "Is that a store front?" and I walked in the space and fell in love with it. It seemed like a good idea. I also just love Northern Liberties. I live in South Philly now, but I will be moving here soon to be closer to my business. It's just a great neighborhood, there are a lot of people who are into art, conscience, or into supporting handmade things.

P: Can you tell me a little bit more about your collaboration with Linda?

A: So far we haven't designed any jewelry together. We met when I went into Topstitch to see if they wanted to buy some of my jewelry. People had been telling me I needed to meet her for forever, then she ended up coming here and we became friends.

P: Are there any other Philadelphia designers you'd like to work with?

A: The first collaboration will definitely be between me and Linda. We are going to start designing some necklaces together, since us both make a ton of rings. Her work is very inspired by animals, which go very well with the crystals. We were thinking about doing some bangles where maybe the animals are biting onto the crystals, as well as designing some more sculptural neckpieces. Maybe even some things that are one of a kind that can only be purchased online or in the store. As far as working with other artists, I definitely want to have first Friday events where we welcome other artists in here, maybe someone who does other types of accessories, like someone who makes clothes or scarves. It would also be cool to have a printmaker or painter in the store to have a show that revolves around them. It would be awesome to get a bunch of different types of artists together to really develop a community.

P: Do you wear jewelry from other places?

A: Linda and I really trade a lot. We have a sort of running tally with each other where we are like "OH! I want this! And I want this!" I want other people's jewelry, but when you make it constantly, it's hard to buy other peoples stuff. I do like to represent other artist's stuff though!

P: Do you have any future plans or ambitions for Concrete Polish?

A: Mostly just moving forward and getting this retail location promoted. I also want to get my line out to other stores. This retail space has been like a fun project, I built an installation of everything I have been doing for the past 5 years. Also, I think mine and Linda's goal is to get our jewelry out to a boutique in every area code of the country and then abroad. Now that the store is set up and we had the opening, it's time to really focus on the business and get myself out there while maintaining store hours.

  Fleathers earrings $32 - $64

P: Could you ever see yourself selling your work through a major retailer?

A: Yes. I would want to be very careful about that considering this is totally my passion, and I am obsessed with these designs and making jewelry. I wouldn't want to sell my line Mineral Massacre, because unfortunately a lot of people will rip you off. We are both really inspired by Pamela Love, and she just did collaboration with Topshop. I would be stoked to do something like that, but it would be designed for that, not necessarily the same things that I pour my heart into for this boutique.

Rose ring $146, Fleather earrings $42

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