We had the good fortune of connecting with Melanie Schlossberg of Dirigible Designs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melanie, how do you define success?
Blake and I are pretty happy right now. We have a great personal relationship built on trust and respect, a funky little home, and a small studio with tools collected or built over the years. We have pets to cuddle, family to love, and friends who make us feel whole. The business we own together, Dirigible Designs, fills us with pride and satisfaction. Though our sales are not where we would eventually like them to be, pandemic aside, we continue to evolve and grow at a steady pace. We travel around the country exhibiting at shows, seeing historical sights, and meeting interesting people. And most importantly, the two of us are able to create works that we are proud of and that appeal to a growing base of followers who relate to the need to express, be seen, and be bold. That sounds pretty successful to me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I once received a birthday card with the quote, “You are a collage of all your experiences.” That sentiment is what drives me. All my experience has lead to this moment in time. My years as a child whose memories serve as my foundation. My academic years with lessons both in and out of the classroom. Early jobs in retail and administrative work that provided me with skills in business and management. Career choices that gave me a taste of larger projects and successes. All of these elements have come together now in my business with Blake, Dirigible Designs. Our jewelry explores the tension between asymmetry and balance, the concept of the mundane versus the precious, and the collaboration of design and ideas between partners. Our work is a collage.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
After they go to High Gloss Houston @ Uptown Park for some shopping, a visit to the Beer Can House is a must. Then pick up some Good Dogs and head down to Smither Park for a picnic. On the way home a stop at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and the Menil. Plan on walking around Buffalo Bayou at some point, stopping to visit the Cistern and climbing up and down the Police Memorial. Follow Buffalo Bayou downtown where the mix of old and new evokes an old European town.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
High Gloss Houston @ Uptown Park / Lisa and Kim Glosserman Lisa and Kim have been so supportive to Blake and I as we started our business together. They have been true mentors using years of experience in the jewelry/craft industry to impart knowledge and business skills to us. We thank them for their trust and support!

Website: https://www.dirigibledesigns.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirigibledesigns/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-schlossberg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DirigibleDesigns/

Image Credits
Jewelry images by Cole Rodger.