ROBERT KEITH

BACKGROUND Robert Keith was a fashion photographer before he founded Hoorsenbuhs in 2005. The self-taught designer sold his first ring for US$3,000, just hours after making it, while waiting in line at a Los Angeles coffee shop. The horseshoe-shaped ring with triple links is now the company’s trademark. INFLUENCES The brand is named after a 16th-century Dutch trading ship that Keith’s ancestors sailed. Keith expanded the line by using the tri-link design and quickly gained a celebrity following, with Kanye West, Lenny Kravitz and Pharrell Williams among his loyal clientele. PARTNERSHIPS In 2007, model Kether Parker became a partner, turning Keith’s jewellery-making hobby into a full-fledged business. He is also Hoorsenbuhs’ official brand ambassador. Later that year, Keith and Parker travelled to New York City to meet with people in the fashion industry, which resulted…