i-D FINEJEWELLERY

«Passionate about design from an early age, it was through the universe of fashion that the Flemish-born Elie Top entered into the world of jewellery. At 17 years old he left his native north to study in Paris at the École de la chambre syndicale de la couture parisienne, then at the age of 19 he went to work for Yves Saint Laurent, where he made the decisive encounters that would determine his vocation, forge his tastes, and shape his way of working: Yves Saint Laurent himself of course, from whom he has retained rigour, high standards and integrity, with alongside him the designer Loulou de la Falaise, a past master of bold combinations imbued with aristocratic nonchalance, and lastly Alber Elbaz with his insatiable creative drive who, when called upon to take over from Saint Laurent, entrusted him at the age of 21 with the creation of his first jewellery pieces. This gave rise to a collaboration that persisted at Lanvin for over ten years: it oversaw the triumph of “couture jewellery”, finally refreshed for modern tastes, displaying exuberance and relevance season after season.»