When people ask me where Carolina Benoit truly began, I tell them: Provence.
This is where our brand found its heart—a place of golden light, slow mornings, and beauty in every small detail. It’s where I learned that jewelry and clothes aren’t just something we wear; it’s a way to carry a piece of a moment, a memory, or a place with you.
Wearing Our Keys in Provence
Walking through the villages of Provence, I wore our Key Necklaces almost every day.
They felt right here—sunlight catching on the gold, the pendant resting just above my heart, a quiet reminder of the values each key represents. In Gordes, one of the most beautiful villages in France, the Keys seemed to belong as much to the landscape as the stone buildings and old shutters. They became part of my travel uniform.
Gordes: A Village from a Painting
Gordes is a place you’ve seen in postcards but only believe once you’re there. Perched on a hilltop, it overlooks the Luberon Valley, with stone houses that turn gold in the afternoon sun. Every turn feels like walking into an oil painting. It’s no wonder so many artists have been drawn here—Provence has inspired greats like Cézanne, Van Gogh, and Matisse.
For me, the connection was immediate: Provence has a special light, and the mistrals is meant to inspire artists. That much is clear for me.
The Markets, the Light, the Mistral
Provence is alive with texture and color—lavender bundles stacked high at market stalls, bowls of green-gold olives, tapenade spread on fresh bread, and handmade linens in soft blues and creams, and a lot of block-prints! The light here is famous—bright yet warm, the kind that makes every photograph look like a memory.
And then there’s the Mistral, the wind that sweeps through Provence. Some say it clears the air and brings good luck; I think it clears the mind. Walking through the streets with the Mistral on my face, my Key Necklace warm against my skin, I felt both grounded and free.
Provence as the Brand’s Compass
Our pieces have always been about more than beauty—they are about meaning, connection, and carrying something that reminds you of who you are. Provence gave me that vision. It showed me that style can be timeless, that elegance can be effortless, and that what you wear should tell a story.
The Keys you see in our collections today were sketched inspired by this place, inspired by the gates of old stone houses, the curves of wrought iron balconies, and the idea that we all carry the keys to our own stories.
Why Provence Will Always Be Home to Our Brand
Whenever I design a new piece, I think back to Provence: the warmth of St Remy, in late afternoon, the rush of the Mistral, the soft clink of my necklace as I leaned over a market table. This is more than a place—it’s a reminder to live beautifully, intentionally, and with heart.
And just like the Keys, it’s something I’ll carry with me always.
