THE FAMILY BUSINESS

Creative Director of Repossi, Gaia Repossi stands at the helm of the three generations of heritage and craftsmanship the brand stands for. Famed for its modern approach to fine jewellery, many of the pieces are still created in the same workshops her great-grandfather used nearly 90 years ago

- AMY SESSIONS

What do your first 30 mins of the day look like, your morning routine?

I jump straight into my yoga practice. It’s been more than 15 years that I practice yoga and I always start my day with a session.

How did you know it was the right time to take the helm at Repossi in 2007 and what were the stepping-stones to that point?

It was progressive and very organic. My father slowly gave me a lot of space and we worked wonderfully together. He gave me a chance to express myself, with trust and intuition. It was never planned it just happened. I was studying and I was planning on pursuing a painting career. I did not expect that I was going to follow in my father’s footsteps; it was a very pleasant surprise.

Do you feel more drawn to the creative or the business side of the brand and how have you grown the team to support this?

As a Creative Director I only relate to the creative, as did my father. Of course, when the burden of an entire company lies on your shoulders there are instincts of business that just apply and require a lot of intuition and trust in one’s vision. A good manager’s skill in my opinion is immediately seeing the potential of every person in every team and to trust them. That is how you can grow a team that leads in the same vision.

What has been the biggest hurdle since taking on this role and how did you navigate it?

I would say in every business there is a lot outside the creative that needs to be handled especially in times like these. Also, for me the best way to navigate it is to surprise people whether they are ready or not.

Do you have any mentors or guides and how does this help navigate the right path?