"My family was a little bit like the Addams family," says Ukraine-born Vera Balyura, as we talk in her Williamsburg apartment on a rainy day. Balyura is best described as a creative Jack of all trades. The jewelry designer who started her line Verameat just a few seasons ago has since landed her macabre yet whimsical designs on the likes of Tilda Swinton, Miranda July and St. Vincent (although, it should be noted that nearly half of Vera Meat's clientele are men—a ratio of which the designer is proud).
But Verameat isn't solely a source for jewelry; Balyura sells two oversized t-shirts (in tank form and long enough to be a dress) which feature her own illustrations, and even a hooded jumpsuit is in the works. Below, she tells us more.
What was so Addams family-esque about your upbringing in the Ukraine?
My grandfather was 7-feet tall. He was a businessman-slash-a little bit mafia, but in the Ukraine it's pretty much the same thing. He'd really be into knife throwing and bombs and stuff. It was a normal thing in our household. I think it's fun. I like darts. Sometimes I go to shooting ranges. I was just in L.A. and my sister and I went to the gun range. I have one of the targets right here [she pulls out a target with a single shot in each of the designated sections]; I got it every time.
So why jewelry, art and music, not knife throwing?
I just sort of did jewelry for fun and to make stuff for myself and my friends. But then I totally fell in love with it. It's more just stuff I want, or what my friends or family want. Like, my sisters are much more girly, and they like really small, girly things. So, a lot of times I'll make them stuff.
Some of your pieces—the Vampire Love ring in particular—reference vampires. Are you a big "True Blood" or "Twilight" fan?
I used to have a girl's night for watching "True Blood" with one of my girlfriends who is a painter. I don't have a TV but I started watching with her and got really into it. Then, my little sister gave me all of the Stephanie Meyer books. I was flying to Australia to see my friend and designer who is also a musician, Jack Ladder. I read them all on the flight and loved them. They're really fun to read; you get through them so fast.
I heard Tilda Swinton's a big fan.
It was the craziest thing. I basically met Wes Anderson's cinematographer on the airplane when I was headed to the "The Darjeeling Limited" premiere. I didn't know he was the cinematographer, but he said he'd watch my bag and we talked; meanwhile, I was totally focused on his daughter who was the cutest kid I'd ever seen. Then, later, I ran into him at the premiere and he introduced me to all of these people like Wes Anderson's brother and Tilda. And for some reason she just took a liking to me. We were talking and she saw the ring that I was wearing and asked where I got it. It was the first ring I made—the Pirate Helm ring; it's one I wear all the time. So, I just gave her mine. The craziest thing is she put it on her marriage ring finger and she was like, 'I'm going to put this on a place of prominence.'
So you basically got engaged on the spot?
Pretty much. Another day I had this older gentleman who was probably 80. He contacted me because he wanted to buy the Indian necklace, but he doesn't wear jewelry. He bought it for his porch. He said that it had very good vibes and energy and he said that it would be the missing link to his back porch. And that meant just as much. I was so psyched. It means so much to me when so many different people like it. I love seeing the kind of people who buy it. I don't want it to be just for girls or for guys or for younger or older people. I want to make it kind of like artifacts. I sometimes feel like they're my little friends. That's why I make them so detailed, but don't use stones. I like them to be subtle. The more you look at it, the more interesting it gets.
What is your favorite thing about the winter in NYC?
Spuyten Duyvil on Metropolitan has this mulled wine that is incredible. It's so good. They have cherries and cumin in it. And they only have it after Thanksgiving so you have to wait for it. You can only have it during the holidays and then it's done.
