GWYNN’S: What's the story that led you here, and what were you doing before Bei Tesori?
ANNIE GLEASON: To start with, Bei Tesori means 'beautiful treasures' in Italian. My grandparents immigrated from Italy. I was married in the Dolomites. I spent the first 30 years of my life in high tech, actually. I met these Italians that ran a workshop — they were fourth generation jewelers — and so my family has become really good friends with them. My mother gave me all this jewelry from our friends. I just started selling it off my body. I brought on a Creative Director who's my co-owner, and we just created this brand and launched about 18 months ago
GWYNN’S: Can you talk about how you arrived at the name Bei Tesori?
ANNIE GLEASON: I wanted something very Italian. I wanted to create things that were a treasure to people.
GWYNN’S: When you picture the woman wearing Bei Tesori, who is she?
ANNIE GLEASON: I think our customers have their own 'je ne sais quoi.' A lot of them are really powerful women. They want something that not everybody has.
GWYNN’S: What are the necklaces both of us are wearing?
ANNIE GLEASON: This is our horoscope rosewood pendant, and this is the Rosewood Heart. They both use gold and natural diamonds. This particular piece was featured in Vogue last Mother's Day. One of the things I love about this line is that they look good on every kind of chain.
GWYNN’S: What inspired you to incorporate rosewood into the collection?
ANNIE GLEASON: We really love to bring natural elements into our design. We really wanted to do an homage to vintage. A lot of people used wood — you'll see them, like, on Cher in the 1970s. I think it's kind of cool girl, but it's also very classic. Rosewood goes with everything.
GWYNN’S: How do you want women to feel when they experience your line?
ANNIE GLEASON: In just one hour of being here, I've already seen how they are feeling, and I think they're really excited. The comment we've gotten from everybody is, 'I've never seen anything like this.' They feel like they've got a beautiful treasure.
