BRUCE: An Ode to the Feminine in All Its Forms
The art of jewelry is an intimate expression of identity—a bold declaration of self in a world that often demands compromise. It exists at the intersection of strength and softness, where power is tempered with vulnerability, and individuality is woven with connection. Each piece carries the stories of its wearer, an evolving testament to life's journey and the quiet act of taking up space unapologetically. At the heart of this philosophy lies a brand that redefines beauty and purpose, crafting designs with mindfulness, sustainability, and profound sensitivity. Meet: BRUCE.
In this conversation, designer Laura Powers of BRUCE shares how jewelry can serve as both a vehicle for personal empowerment and a commitment to ethical responsibility, celebrating the complexities of femininity—bold yet graceful, powerful yet vulnerable. For Laura, each piece is not only a reflection of personal transformation but also a deep dedication to sustainability. This interview explores Laura's journey of creating jewelry that embodies strength, resilience, and unapologetic authenticity—a practice of moving through the world as our truest selves.
eugenie: Laura, thanks so much for taking the time to share more about yourself and your work. To begin, let’s talk about the name of your brand, BRUCE. You’ve mentioned to Audiofemme that it represents unapologetic self-sovereignty and feminine power. Could you share more about the origin of the name and what it means to you personally?
Laura Powers: Choosing a name for the brand was one of the hardest parts for me—it took me nearly a year to commit. I knew I wanted a name that was short, strong, and visually appealing. I went through a lot of ideas but none of them fit quite right.
One of my favorite films is Dogtooth by Yorgos Lanthimos, and there’s a moment in it that has always stuck with me. Without revealing too much, there’s a scene where the eldest daughter begins to explore her sense of identity in a way that’s completely new to her - a very brave move given the circumstances within her family. As she begins to feel more empowered through that exploration, she tells her siblings she wants to be called BRUCE. It was a moment where she claimed herself as her own. That resonated deeply with my own experience of learning to define myself and explore my place as a woman in the world.
I struggled in early adulthood, as many women do, with taking up space, apologizing too much, feeling unsure and timid in my identity. That “BRUCE” moment—the unapologetic, courageous declaration of self—felt so empowering to me. It represents what I wanted for myself and my brand: boldness, authenticity, tenacity.
For me, BRUCE captures that sense of feminine empowerment. When I slip into my pieces, I feel like the fullest, truest version of myself, and that’s exactly how I want my jewelry to make other people feel when they wear it, like they can move boldly in the world as exactly who they are.
eugenie: BRUCE describes itself as a jewelry brand focused on reconciling opposites. How does this ethos manifest in your work, and how do you interpret it through the lens of feminine power?
Laura: Again, back to being a woman in the world, it often means navigating contradictions. We’re expected to be many things at once—often opposites—and we learn to balance those expectations while growing more grounded in ourselves. There’s great value in learning to embrace both softness and strength, learning to be loud when we have something to say and quiet when it’s time to listen, stepping back to observe or boldly taking the lead, moving with kindness while advocating for what we want, need, deserve—this is something women do every day, and I find that deeply inspiring.
I aim to reflect this duality through my jewelry. Many of my pieces are solid and weighty, and metal by nature is hard, but they also have softness—curves and slopes, an inherent smoothness. There are unexpected details and nuance. They’re big and bold but there’s a quiet elegance to them too. All of this echoes the character of the community of women I surround myself with every day. We move unapologetically through the world while embracing the complexities that make us exactly who we are.
My work is a celebration of that—of strength paired with grace, power tempered with vulnerability, and individuality woven with connection. It’s an ode to feminine power in all its forms: resilient, dynamic, and ever-evolving.
eugenie: There is a meaningful connection between the jewelry we wear and the bodies that adorn it. Can you share your personal or brand philosophy on the significance of this relationship between jewelry and identity?
Laura: The intimacy of jewelry lies in how it interacts with our bodies. Unlike clothing, which covers us, jewelry embraces us in a more subtle way—it’s worn close to the skin, touching our fingers, ears, necks, wrists. Jewelry is deeply personal—and in my opinion, it’s one of the most intimate physical forms of self-expression.
This closeness creates a bond between the wearer and the jewelry. The piece becomes an extension of us, a quiet companion reflecting our mood, journey and identity. The scratches and patina a piece of jewelry gathers as it’s worn is a physical record of what the wearer experiences day to day. Over time, it becomes a map of their path through life, each mark telling a story, each imperfection adding character. It quite literally shows their personal history— moments of joy, challenges, milestones. Every dent or scratch is a reflection of life being lived, a quiet testament to the passage of time. Wearing jewelry is almost like a dialogue between the body and the adornment—it moves with us, becomes a part of our rhythm, can influence the way we carry ourselves and is often passed down, creating tangible connection throughout generations.
That intimate connection to the past is a primary reason I chose to work in fine jewelry. It’s a powerful feeling to wear the earrings your mother wore on her first date with your father, the diamond your grandmother wore through her pregnancy that was given to her by her own mother - those quiet companions and record-keepers our ancestors carried then eventually left behind.
eugenie: One of the things we admire about BRUCE is your commitment to using sustainable materials, like recycled gold and ethically sourced, traceable stones. What originally inspired you to adopt these material standards in your work?
Laura: To start, I was raised to be mindful of how my actions affect others in any situation. It’s core to my being. In my business, it all comes back to empathy and taking a holistic view of the way my actions affect the communities I work with. Everything we do has a ripple effect, and that includes the choices we make as creators. If I’m going to create something, I want to do it in the kindest, most ethical way possible. I think it’s important to continuously recognize that we’re all interconnected—our actions affect the planet, the communities around us and the generations that come after us.
Choosing sustainable materials is one way I can take responsibility for that connection. I’ve always believed that beauty can be created without harm. The jewelry we wear should be not only a reflection of our personal style, but also of our values—values that include taking care of the planet and the people on it. By using recycled gold and ethically sourced, traceable stones, I’m making sure that the process of creating beauty doesn’t come at the expense of the environment or the communities involved in sourcing the materials.
It’s about being mindful of the larger picture and doing my part to create positive impact. We have the power to make choices that nurture both beauty and responsibility—this is what I started with and what continues to guide my choices.
eugenie: Sustainability can often feel like a vague term, especially in an industry where greenwashing is common. What does sustainability specifically mean to you and to your brand, BRUCE?
Laura: Sustainability for me is a core value, grounded in a "do no harm" mindset—making choices that ensure minimal impact on the planet and support the well-being of the people and communities involved. It’s not just about sourcing sustainable materials, but about creating connections that have a positive impact at every stage of production. It always comes back to my belief that jewelry can be a medium for connection—to the earth, to ourselves, and to the people who have a hand in bringing it all to life.
At the start, I prioritized finding supply chain sources that align with my values and continue to work with the same very small network to this day. I use recycled gold to eliminate reliance on commercial mining and contribute to positive economic impact in local communities. I use reclaimed stones wherever I can and any new stones I use come from one of three vetted suppliers who uphold strong environmental practices. By hand making each piece to order and keeping no extra stock, my production has a lower carbon footprint and contributes to my local economy.
Mindfulness is central to my process. It’s about being intentional in every decision, from the materials I use to how I craft each piece. I’m constantly reflecting on how my choices affect the world around me, and make sure that each step is aligned with my values and the long-term health of our planet.
eugenie: Having grown up on the coast of Maine before moving to Brooklyn, do you find that your home landscape influences or appears in your creative work?
Laura: Absolutely, Maine is part of my essence. The curves and round edges of the coastline, the mountains and valleys—these natural forms are consistently represented in my designs. I use little bead accents that are drawn from worn pebbles along the shore. Maine is deeply grounding for me, and the colors I choose are the colors of Maine—champagne diamonds like sand, teal sapphires you could stare into for hours like the ocean, white diamonds like seaspray, gray diamonds that somehow capture the specific shade of the coast during a storm.
eugenie: BRUCE has cultivated a distinctive and consistent brand aesthetic that keeps people coming back. What are some of the key inspirations behind the aesthetics of your work?
Laura: Some consistent key inspirations are rooted in both nature and the urban surroundings of my daily life. The beaches I grew up on along the coast of southern and midcoast Maine, the ebb and flow of the ocean, especially on a stormy day. The rhythm and energy of New York City. The slow movement of clouds over the mountains in deep upstate New York. Roundness and fluidity, as well as a sense of femininity balancing boldness with elegance. The colors of the materials themselves—golds, greens, blues, and blushes—and the tactile quality of solid gold naturally guide my aesthetic choices. At the heart of it all, there’s also a quiet sense of solitude that shapes my creative process—moments of stillness and quiet. I revel in that.
eugenie: The beauty and environmental mindfulness in BRUCE flower out from how you as the designer experience the world. What practices, resources, or influences help ground and shape your connection to the earth?
Laura: My connection to the earth is deeply influenced by the places I was raised and where I live now. Traveling back to Maine, especially to the mid-coast, grounds me. Sharing those places with my toddler has added a new sort of connection to the earth. We spend a lot of time in upstate New York where I get to experience mist moving over the catskills and through the trees at dusk with him.
I’m also a regular at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where I go to sketch and absorb a calm respite from city life. There’s something overall about how nature perseveres in the city—there’s a huge, old tree flourishing outside my studio window, while just beyond it is an above-ground subway bridge with a constant flow of people and trains. That dichotomy soothes and grounds me.
eugenie: Based on your own creative journey, do you have any advice for young designers who hope to prioritize or explore sustainability in the jewelry industry?
Laura: Sustainability in jewelry can be challenging because there’s inherently less available to work with, but I’ve actually learned to relish these limitations—they push me to think more creatively. My advice there would be to lean in when things feel challenging, there’s always a way to achieve what you want within a sustainable system.
Another big thing is to choose your supply partners wisely and truly vet them. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and be curious, even if you feel awkward or silly. There have been times I’ve tried to start a conversation about sustainability with a potential supplier and they look at me like I’m crazy. It’s awkward, but that tells me they’re not a supplier for me. When you do find suppliers who share your values, invest in and maintain that relationship.
Other things I’d advise - attend ethical shows and engage with other sustainable makers to learn and build a community. Always look for new ways to improve the sustainability of your work and remain mindful of what you’re putting into the world. Resist the urge to over-create—being intentional is key.
eugenie: BRUCE has long been a favorite at eugenie, alongside many other exceptional sustainable brands. What other brands or pieces in our shop resonate with you?
Laura: That means a lot to hear - I love being part of the eugenie family and feel lucky to be carried alongside so many brands that I deeply admire.
I have a wool throw from Studio Variously that Gretchen sent as a gift when I was pregnant and it’s one of my favorite things in my home. It’s very sweet to cuddle up under it with my baby now.
St. Agni and Cordera occupy a very large part of my closet and I live in Hansel from Basel socks. I also love Mar Mar Candles and almost always have one burning in my studio while I work.