Stacy Fan wearing gold cuff by Silvia Davila.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, the season naturally invites reflection on the people we cherish — not just romantic partners, but the longtime creative allies whose work we admire, support, and return to again and again. This year, I wanted to spotlight a designer whose jewelry feels especially fitting as a Valentine’s Day gift: intentional, handcrafted, and made to last.
Over the years I've interviewed Silvia Davila, one of the original designers at Flying Solo who helped, quite literally, build it from the ground up. Due to Covid we hadn't see each other for some time but in March of last year, we met again and I was able to reconnect with her. During a moment when her work — and her perspective — felt quietly powerful. Time has passed since that conversation, but her evolution has only deepened. She's always been a designer that's created with intention, but what she creates now feels even less about trend or immediacy, and more about meaning: pieces that carry weight, story, and permanence — much like the relationships worth celebrating this time of year.
That sensibility is woven throughout her latest chapter, one shaped by patience, reinvention, and a renewed commitment to craft. Her jewelry doesn’t shout; it speaks with confidence. It’s the kind of gift that feels personal — something chosen thoughtfully, meant to be worn often, and kept for years.
Over the years I've interviewed Silvia Davila, one of the original designers at Flying Solo who helped, quite literally, build it from the ground up. Due to Covid we hadn't see each other for some time but in March of last year, we met again and I was able to reconnect with her. During a moment when her work — and her perspective — felt quietly powerful. Time has passed since that conversation, but her evolution has only deepened. She's always been a designer that's created with intention, but what she creates now feels even less about trend or immediacy, and more about meaning: pieces that carry weight, story, and permanence — much like the relationships worth celebrating this time of year.
That sensibility is woven throughout her latest chapter, one shaped by patience, reinvention, and a renewed commitment to craft. Her jewelry doesn’t shout; it speaks with confidence. It’s the kind of gift that feels personal — something chosen thoughtfully, meant to be worn often, and kept for years.
Stacy Fan Interviewing Silvia Davila
After years of stillness, rebuilding, and quiet reinvention, Davila emerges with more than a new collection — she returns with clarity, confidence, and a vision shaped by time, cities, and craft.
I already had a brand — but the real question was how to turn it into a company that could last.
It’s been a long time since we last sat down together, and the reunion feels warm and familiar. In the years between, the world slowed, priorities shifted, and creativity was forced to find new rhythms. For this designer, that pause became a turning point — one that reshaped not only how she works, but why.
“It’s really good to see you again,” Davila says, smiling. “I know!" I reply, "It’s been such a long time.”
So much has happened since then. Like many creatives, the past few years, came with uncertainty — but also unexpected clarity.
I ask how Davila has been, “I've been very good, actually,” she says. “We had ups and downs during COVID, of course. I think the first couple of years afterward, everyone was just trying to catch up — trying to understand what had changed. But this year feels different. Things have really been moving upward, and I finally feel ready for the next phase.”
While many brands pivoted quickly to digital visibility and Zoom-ready moments during the pandemic, her experience unfolded differently.
“I wasn’t really working during that time,” Davila explains. “Instead, I took on a completely different project. We bought an apartment, and I redesigned it and went through construction during that period. That kept me busy.”
The pause, though unplanned, became essential.
“My jewelry has always been very statement-driven — not necessarily online-friendly. That period forced me to ask bigger questions: How would I survive something like this again? What does longevity really mean for my brand?”
With time suddenly available, she leaned into reading and research — studying business, structure, and strategy.
“As designers, we often know exactly who we are creatively,” Davila reflects. “But that doesn’t mean we’re strong businesspeople. I already had a brand, but I needed to learn how to build a company.”
It’s a challenge many independent designers face: transforming a singular creative vision into something sustainable.
“For the longest time, I did everything myself,” she says. “Now I’m ready to bring people in. Building a team means I finally have space — space to think, to grow, to focus on ideas I never had time for before.”
Despite this evolution, one thing remains unchanged: every piece is still handmade.
“That part is essential to me,” she says simply.
“It’s really good to see you again,” Davila says, smiling. “I know!" I reply, "It’s been such a long time.”
So much has happened since then. Like many creatives, the past few years, came with uncertainty — but also unexpected clarity.
I ask how Davila has been, “I've been very good, actually,” she says. “We had ups and downs during COVID, of course. I think the first couple of years afterward, everyone was just trying to catch up — trying to understand what had changed. But this year feels different. Things have really been moving upward, and I finally feel ready for the next phase.”
While many brands pivoted quickly to digital visibility and Zoom-ready moments during the pandemic, her experience unfolded differently.
“I wasn’t really working during that time,” Davila explains. “Instead, I took on a completely different project. We bought an apartment, and I redesigned it and went through construction during that period. That kept me busy.”
The pause, though unplanned, became essential.
“My jewelry has always been very statement-driven — not necessarily online-friendly. That period forced me to ask bigger questions: How would I survive something like this again? What does longevity really mean for my brand?”
With time suddenly available, she leaned into reading and research — studying business, structure, and strategy.
“As designers, we often know exactly who we are creatively,” Davila reflects. “But that doesn’t mean we’re strong businesspeople. I already had a brand, but I needed to learn how to build a company.”
It’s a challenge many independent designers face: transforming a singular creative vision into something sustainable.
“For the longest time, I did everything myself,” she says. “Now I’m ready to bring people in. Building a team means I finally have space — space to think, to grow, to focus on ideas I never had time for before.”
Despite this evolution, one thing remains unchanged: every piece is still handmade.
“That part is essential to me,” she says simply.
Iza By Silvia Davila's collection
With renewed focus came a shift in inspiration. Frequent shows in Paris opened a new visual dialogue between two cities.
“I started thinking about how to connect Paris and New York,” she explains. “Architecture became the bridge — especially Art Deco. There’s so much of it in both places.”
After fashion week, she stayed longer in Paris, wandering the city, photographing buildings, absorbing details. Slowly, those impressions found their way into her work.
“What surprised me most was how people immediately connected to it,” she says. “They’d tell me, ‘Your pieces remind me of Art Deco.’ That’s exactly what I was exploring.”
The result is a collection that feels bold yet intentional — sculptural, but deeply wearable.
“Even when I make large statement pieces, I’m always thinking about weight, balance, and proportion,” she says. “Will it feel good on the body? Will it move with you? Will it work on different people?”
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Some designs are even convertible, allowing the wearer to shift between bold and understated depending on the moment.
“You can’t always wear something as dramatic as what I’m wearing now,” (Silvia is wearing a stunning large cuff that wraps up much of her forearm) she laughs. “So I like pieces that can transform.”
Materials range from gold-plated brass to silver, with select pieces offered in both. The collection itself is expansive — roughly twenty designs — including earrings, bracelets, and rings that rotate in and out.
“I like to keep things fluid,” she says. “Some pieces stay. Others are truly one of a kind. If something is too intricate or too labor-intensive, I won’t recreate it. That’s part of the beauty.”
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Pricing reflects that balance of craftsmanship and accessibility, ranging from smaller pieces under $200 to larger statement designs reaching the high $300s — shaped by rising material costs and the time each piece demands.
In the end, what stands out most isn’t just the jewelry, but the intention behind it.
“This phase feels more grounded,” she says. “I know who I am as a designer now. I’m not just creating pieces — I’m building something that can last.”
Iza by Silvia Davila
Iza by Silvia Davila IG
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