About John Wind

I love making art and I love making people happy. Our 'Gotta have it', modern/vintage jewelry and gifts addresses both of these passions. I want our collectors to feel the romance and connection to the past, and even share the sense of discovery I feel when visiting Clingancourt Market in Paris and unearthing that special antique charm. At the same time I want them to look great, feel good, and strike up some conversations thanks to their jewels!

I began making jewelry while studying at the Slade School of Art in London; on weekends I'd visit Portobello Road and find fabulous vintage bits, then I'd rush home, glue them into big, funky brooches, and wear them out that night. (Hey, it was the 80'sóthink Culture Club and The Thompson Twins! And that's my pearl double-brooch on their album cover . . .)

I also fell in love with Victorian jewelryóits beauty and the way it tells a story by conveying emotions (love, passion, friendship) and connections (family, friends, heritage). I set out to do the same, but in a fun, fashionable way. Around that time I also met and was photographed by Andy Warhol, which while not totally jewelry related, was certainly a high-point for a young aspiring artist!

I moved back to my hometown of Philadelphia and started Maximal Art in 1985. For the first few years, I worked with my close friend Hilary Jay. Our look hit the fashion world pretty quickly, we received lots of press, and the company grew very quickly.

The 90's brought many changesóminimalism, a recession, and the evolution of Maximal Art into the gift world. We developed a distinctive look that really played off of Victorian jewelry and essentially rebuild the company into a world where my grandmother's antique lace tablecloths draped our tradeshow booth!

We were invited into the permanent collections of both the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and the MusÈe des Arts Decoratifs, Paris. I can't tell you how exciting and gratifying this was (and still is...)

In the last decade, fashion jewelry made a comeback and we introduced the John Wind Signature Collection. It has been an opportunity for me to tap into my artistic roots and also interpret the fashion vibe of the day. At the same time our gift jewelry has evolved beyond Victoria into a cooler and fresher new place. One of the wild things about a 25 year career is that we are now selling to the daughters of our original customers! Even better is when 3 generations come to one of my trunk shows together and everyone finds something they love...

This story would not have happened without the belief, intelligence, and commitment of our company president, Robbin Cook, who has worked with me since almost day one.

For the last 20 years I have also shared the journey with my personal partner, Kirk Kirkpatrick. In addition to his career in marketing, Kirk is a passionate traveler and design connoisseur whose visions and enthusiasms have inspired and motivated me over and over...

Finally, none of this would have happened without youó John's gals, our loyal customers, both wholesale and retail (ok, and the occasional guy too...) Over the years, we've sold many thousands of necklaces, brooches, earrings, bracelets, frames, etc... But ultimately every single piece goes out into the world and finds a home and makes someone happy. That direct, personal, uplifting moment is what it's all about. And I thank you for allowing me to make this my life's work.