Krystal Sasso : Resort-Bohemian Jewelry

After high school, Palm Beach native Krystal Sasso, 25, faced a common dilemma; follow a dream, move to New York and attend fashion school, or get a "real" degree from a 4-year university. Despite a lifelong interest in fashion design, she took the safer path and attended the University of San Diego, where she graduated with a BBA in Business Administration.

Not content to sit on her druthers in California, she spent her junior year abroad studying design and language in Florence, Italy. "I was exposed to so many different forms of art." She says, "I walked by the Duomo everyday on the way to class. Sometimes I would pinch myself because I thought it wasn't true."

Krystal's Signature Koi hangs on a string of gem stones.

After graduation, Sasso took more time off to gallivant the world, visiting Tunisia, Egypt, Hong Kong, Thailand, and other foreign destinations. "When I finally came back to Palm Beach," Sasso said, "I asked myself, okay Krystal, you don't want a nine to fiver, so what can you do?"

Beautiful hand made hoops

During her travels, she carried jewelry that she would make for herself in idle time, and women began buying pieces off her neck. It occurred to Sasso that perhaps she could make a living at this. "I went to the gem supplier in Miami and bought a bunch of supplies. Then I sat down at my dining room table, laid it all out, and starting creating piece after piece." Two weeks later, shopping at Delray Beach boutique Love Shack, Sasso was asked who designed the jewelry she was wearing. When Sasso replied that the design was her own, the store placed an order with her.

After delivering her first order, Sasso returned to Italy for a planned stay of 6 months to soak up the culture. However, only 4 weeks into her stay, Love Shack called. "I started to get worried something broke," Sasso said, "but instead the store told me that they had sold out of all my jewelry and that they wanted to place another order!" Sasso took it as a sign to get back to the states and get her company off the ground.

A navy and pink koi combination dangles at a number of lengths that the customer can designate.

Sasso's designs are rooted in her travels, her signature golden koi necklaces, a sign of prosperity, were originally inspired by something she picked up at an antique market in Italy. All of her designs make use of precious stones, bold colors, and quality bead work. "Quality is extremely important to me" Sasso says. "I will always stand behind the quality of my work."

Sasso cites her muses; "I love seeing people experimenting with street style. I do a lot of traveling and a lot of people watching, I love to see the way people mix, match, and put things together." She continues, "Also, Phillipe Starck is to me, a genius. I would love to be able to translate his ability in interior design to jewelry. The way he mixes colors and textures is what I'm expanding on with my new collection."

Chunky, Palm Beach-esque pieces have become Krystal's signature

A huge hit in resort areas, surprisingly, catering to that market was never Sasso's intention. However, she says she thinks she "automatically leads to that", citing a lifetime spent by the sea. "It comes naturally" she adds. Her designs lend well to shops like C.Orrico in Palm Beach that specialize in resort contemporary, stocking designers like Milly, Tibi, and Trina Turk. C.Orrico co-owner Colleen Orrico adds that Sasso's jewelry encompasses the "urban gypsy meets simple chic style" that lends itself so well to her business. She goes on to talk about Krystal's wide-ranging line of punchy colored to smokey, standout stones. "That is our customer," Orrico says "simple in the day, but watch out for her at night."

As she expands her line, Sasso hopes to eventually penetrate larger markets and more stores worldwide. "Right now though," she says "I've just returned from Tokyo, so I'm excited to examine all the pictures I've taken and see what I can take from it."

Krystal Sasso can be reached for order inquires at Krystal.Sasso@gmail.com. For stores that carry her line, please visit krystalsasso.com. Krystal's pieces can be seen on the cover of Ocean Drive Magazine and on the runways at the most recent Ed Hardy swimwear show.

Being as I am 22 years old and beginning my career, The Love List likes to give people in the design world making a name for themselves at an early age an extra little bit of, well, love! We like to call them our Young Guns. To read about more Young Guns, check out posts on Michelle Adams of Rubie Green, LA Designer Kyle Schuneman and Reagan & Emmy of Southern Proper.