Originally from Sweden, Monika is a fashion designer based in New York City. At a young age, she developed an appreciation for design and hand-made art. She recently moved from Paris, where she lived for 9 years and worked for several famous fashion designers. Having spent many hours at the Parisian flea markets, collecting old embroidery and lace, Monika conceived the idea for Gilded Lace. Inside each piece of hand crafted Gilded Lace jewelry lies vintage lace from the 1910’s to the 1950’s. Most of the lace is from France, but Monika has also started using some vintage American lace. “I want to add value to old, forgotten lace that once was made by very skilled women. It is a way to honor the craftsmanship of the lace makers and to create modern and beautiful pieces that will last for a long time.” To make the jewelry, Monika hand-stitches the lace together to form the shape and seals it. The pieces are then dipped in sterling silver or 24k gold. Each product is sold with a piece of the original lace. The jewelry is made in New York City. The jewelry pieces are named after Early Broadway Girls, such as Clara (Bow) and Tallulah (Bankhead), who sported lace undergarments.