The young metalsmith, whose eponymous label is stocked at Dover Street Market Singapore, talks about being the new kid on the block in the realm of edgy jewellers

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On getting into the jewellery business... 
When I was a jewellery salesman, I would look at the jewellery in my cases while working all over America and ask myself how I would make a bracelet or a ring better if I were to design them. Then I began designing jewellery in my own kitchen and things took off from there. We now work out of our own workspace and I even have an apprentice who helps me.

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On his roots... 
I would rather be known for being an artist or designer who happens to be Native American than to be labelled as a Navajo jeweller. Many people have this impression that I use the star symbol in my designs for the Native Americans in Texas but I do it for (my son) Jordan. His last name is Estoile, and that means star in our mother language. The star symbol also gives a sense of power, and ranking systems all over the world use stars as a form of metric. I like it because everyone can identify with the star.

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&quot;I would rather be known for being an artist or designer who happens to be Native American than to be labelled as a Navajo jeweller.&quot; - Cody Sanderson

On his design inspirations... 
It could be from anywhere or anything, from a kid&#39;s toys to a shattered iPhone screen. The texture of one particular ring I created was based on tree bark. A lot of my jewellery is also ergonomically-designed with a square opening instead of a round one, and caters to the human body so the wearer feels comfortable. A square ring also locks the jewellery in place and allow for a better fit.

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On being likened to established cult brands... 
Our jewellery complement each other. I use the word &ldquo;our&rdquo; because I feel that all the brands out there are helping me in the sense that <a href="http://www.codysandersondesigns.com/">Cody Sanderson</a> can be worn not just alone, but with Goro&#39;s, Chrome Hearts, or even Tiffany &amp; Co. What makes Cody Sanderson different is that I speak to the people on the streets. If you see me in a restaurant and know who I am, please introduce yourself. I also bring around gifts like a bandana or ring, and pass them on to young collectors who may not necessarily have the funds to buy my jewellery now. It&#39;s my way of making them remember Cody Sanderson.

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On his plans for the future&hellip; 
We&#39;re speaking to brands like Dita, IC Berlin and Dillon, and I really hope to do some amazing sunglasses with them. I also want to do furniture, rugs, sculptures, and be able to do them extremely well. There&#39;s a really a lot of things I want to do and I don&#39;t see myself retiring. There&rsquo;s a saying in America: &ldquo;shaking hands &amp; kissing babies&rdquo;. Politicians do a lot of that, and that&#39;s what I&#39;m going to do in 2018.

Stars & Spikes: Interview with Cody Sanderson, cult jewellery designer

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