Sophia Forero

Sophia Forero is a jewelry designer. She creates jewelry with colors and textures inspired by her study of international cultures, including Tuareg culture and Byzantine art.

Educated at the University of Illinois for her undergraduate degree and then at the University of Chicago for her Master's, Sophia Forero lived in Eastern Europe working for the US Peace Corps as a teacher. She first became interested in designing jewelry while writing her masters thesis on indigenous cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa. While in the Peace Corps in Hungary, she visited bead factories and gathered materials from all over Europe, the former Soviet Union, and the Balkans.

In 2002, Sophia won Marshall Field’s Distinction in Design award, coming in first place over hundreds of designers. Sophia’s pieces have since been featured in such publications as Women’s Wear Daily, Lucky, the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Chicago Social. She has appeared on WLS morning broadcast and her work has been on various television spots including CNN and Chicago’s 190 North.

In 2007, Sophia introduced her signature mosaic pendant. An hommage to Byzantine icons and pointillism, Sophia and her team hand sew faceted beads and then set them in sterling or gold to create a brand new idea in jewelry.

In 2008, Sophia added a green line of recycled aluminum and leather cuffs designed by her husband, installation artist Mauricio Forero. The cuffs are sold in stores in Miami, New York's Soho, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Sold in over 300 stores, her jewels are in Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and Oilily.

Sophia’s pieces have been worn by several celebrities, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Nia Vardalos and Caroline Rhea.

Sophia lives and works in Illinois with her husband and four children.

External links

• Official website of Sophia Forero Designs Official website does not have a contact address or customer service telephone number and several requests to resurface tarnished jewelry represented as gold plated have been ignored.