For siblings Christie and Rosanna, sharing has always come naturally. When they lived together in London at the start of their careers, they often swapped jewellery as they styled their outfits. Now the pair stand together at the helm of Otiumberg, a jewellery collection of luxury pieces for everyday wear.
It was back in 2016 that the sisters founded the business, which specialises in earrings, necklaces and rings crafted in solid gold, gold vermeil and sterling silver. Their understated designs are now stocked by Harvey Nichols, Liberty London and Browns and have been styled by high profile actresses including Emma Watson, Olivia Colman, Anne Hathaway and Emma Stone.
Artistic influence
Rosanna, who is four years younger, explains, “Christie made a pair of diamond huggie earrings and name necklaces in the Middle East when she was working there with Louis Vuitton in her early twenties, and gifted them to our family. They were so beautiful that friends started to ask about them. So, we began with a collection of small solid gold huggies and sold them to our close friends.”
Christie adds, “We quickly realised that there was an opportunity to create jewellery that was meaningful, beautifully crafted yet more accessible than the fine jewellery category. We envisioned pieces that went with us everywhere, that felt part of us.”
All in the name
Christie and Rosanna amalgamated the ‘berg’ of their family name with the Latin word ‘otium’ which means leisure time devoted to artistic endeavours, and Otiumberg was born. With the combination of Christie’s talent and Rosanna’s background in luxury branding, the business flourished. Word spread on social media and soon high-end retail partners became interested in the brand.
The sisters had no external investment, but grew Otiumberg steadily, concentrating on the creation of an organisation that is a true reflection of their own values. This strategy paid off and, last year, Otiumberg was awarded B Corp status meaning that it meets the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
Giving back
Otiumberg champions charities both at home and abroad. Rosanna explains, “We have a Giving Fund which strives to donate close to one per cent of sales every year to causes that empower and uplift women and children. As part of that, we work with Choose Love: the proceeds from our Choose Love necklace support displaced women and children. We also support London-based Smart Works by donating jewellery to the women that come through their network. Recently we partnered with the Pratthanadee Foundation in Thailand, close to where we make our jewellery. This foundation seeks to build the confidence and potential of young women from less fortunate regions. We believe, as a brand with a global supply chain, that our giving should extend beyond London.”
New horizons
Since 2022 Otiumberg has been based at a by-appointment boutique in London Bridge but this autumn sees the launch of a flagship store in the heart of Holland Park. Rosanna says, “We're really excited about our store on Portland Road, it's a quaint and quintessential London street with its own local community of residents and businesses. We’ve designed the space ourselves adding personal touches to make it warm and inviting.”
Christie and Rosanna’s minimalist aesthetic is popular in the US and Japan, and a favourite collaboration has been with Camilla and Marc, an Australian ready-to-wear label. Christie explains, “Camilla and Marc are also a sibling creative duo and the collection was all about ear cuffs, achieving a stacked look with no piercings required. What is wonderful is that we found that women of all ages bought them and now we bring out a new cuff for the Otiumberg collection each season.”
Side by side
The Wollenberg sisters share a business but their roles within it are defined. Christie says, “I am the creative director, so my days usually start with a meeting – brainstorming, sketching or reviewing concepts. Aside from design, Rosanna and I work together, so our days vary depending on what meetings we have in place.” Rosanna agrees that no one day is the same, adding, “That’s what I love most about running a business! My role is all encompassing across managing the brand; whether that’s working on the store design or our B Corp progress, it’s a full 360. Most days, we’ll squeeze some time in for a walk together to clear our minds and catch-up sister to sister.”
Although the women are both married and no longer live together, achieving sister time is still easy as the pair are next door neighbours in Wimbledon. This is particularly beneficial for Christie who juggles work with three children. She says “My kids jump over the wall to Auntie Ro’s house, and she can give them a quick hug as they run out the door to school. It’s really quite special. It also means we can take late calls with the US inone of our houses, and early morning calls with Australia before headinginto work, so it’s very practical.”
As siblings, Christie and Rosanna seem to have the perfect relationship; as founders of Otiumberg, the pair have obviously hiton a winning dynamic which is taking their business to Holland Park and beyond.
Christie & Rosanna's London
What is your favourite London memory?
Rosanna: Spending Fridays with my husband at Unit 31, an open studio in Limehouse where every week the house musicians hosted performers across jazz, neo-soul, poetry and rap. It felt exciting, like we were part of a new grassroots music moment.
Where do you like to eat in the capital?
Christie: On a daily basis the little Italian deli Speck on Portland Road next to our store is delicious.
Where do you go to unwind?
Rosanna: Menorca, where we have a family home and spent all our summers growing up. For both of us, sitting on the balcony looking at the sea immediately washes away any exhaustion.
What or who have you got on speed dial?
Christie: My husband – the human who has allowed me to build Otiumberg while having our family; the chef of the house, and all-round saving grace!
London's best kept secret is...
Rosanna: Swimming! There are so many incredible spots to swim which you wouldn't necessarily expect. I also adore Italo deli which is hidden away
in Vauxhall.
Who is on your radar?
Christie: The artist Joshua Perkin – I'm a big fan of his work and we have a piece by him in our boutique which represents sisterhood.
Rosanna: I’ve always got an eye on new restaurants as London’s food scene is so exciting. I’m looking forward to trying OMA in Borough Market and Henri in Covent Garden soon.
