187It is in this visual delight that
Gianmaria spends most of his time;
conversing with the many local and
foreign visitors who trek in and out
of his boutique every day, searching
for the perfect trinket. Each and
every single one of his pieces are
bold and daring, which is exactly
how those closest to the designer would describe him; he
exudes confidence and shows great knowledge and love
for everything artistic. Aside from sketching his unique
creations and bringing them to fruition, music also plays
a large role in his life and it shows through his designs.
Usually dressed simply in a white T- shirt, baseball cap and
jeans, he describes his unpretentious style as a way to use
his outfit as a canvas for the jewellery. This flare for the
creative side is deeply rooted in Gianmaria’s family history;
the Carbognin name has played an important and dominant
role within the Seychelles’ jewellery business for over 30
years now.
Gianmaria’s mother, the flamboyant and well-loved
philanthropist Mary Carbognin found her way into jewellery
making after she left the Seychelles for Italy, her own mother
wanting her to get a sense of the world outside of the quiet,
tranquility of the islands she had become accustomed to. It
was during Mary’s time in this new foreign land that she met
her late husband Ricardo Carbognin, a jeweller and designer
himself. After spending several years in Italy mastering
and perfecting their art they decided to move back to the
Seychelles to open their own design house.
As an adolescent, Gianmaria knew from the very get go
that he too would follow in his parent’s footsteps and it did
not take him long to choose a college once the time came.
In 2004, very much like his mother many years before him,
he left his little island home and enrolled at the famous Le
Arti Orafe in Florence. Here Gianmaria’s passion grew with
the new knowledge he acquired, such as metal casting,
soldering and the study of all the great jewellery
designers before him. While he was in Florence he
made friends with fellow students who were studying
to be fashion designers. These acquaintances aided
him in learning which type of necklace best matched an
A-Line dress or which earrings were better suited if one
had their hair styled in a chignon. Aside from all of this,
what Gianmaria excelled best at in his time at Le Arti
Orafe was stone setting. This was a craft that neither
his parent’s possessed and an exciting addition to his
own and the family’s toolbox. In 2007 after graduating
with a distinction, he returned to Seychelles ready to
add his fresh new ideas to the Carbognin line.
Fast forward to present time and the name Gianmaria
Carbognin can be seen tagged occasionally on the
daily social media posts of Seychelles’s young fashion
forward generation. His most famous line to date which
draws its inspiration from the islands renowned Coco
de Mer nut, suitably named Coco Candy has been a huge
hit with locals and tourists alike.
Gianmaria’s jewellery symbolises the Seychelles
culture and lifestyle and every piece of jewellery has
a unique story to tell. His thirst for knowledge and
passion for gemmology has made him one of the most
original designers in Seychelles today. If you haven’t
already visited, the next time you are in Seychelles,
stop by his boutique on Eden island to experience the
magical world of Gianmaria Carbognin first hand.ABSOLUTEPortofino - Eden Plaza - Eden Island
Riccardo Carbognin - Camion Hall
Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles P.O Box 612
+248 2504916
[email protected]
gianmaria.carbognin