Christelle Chignard Paul is the founder and owner of Atelier Calla, an artisan workshop based in Haiti specializing in production of jewelry and home goods made of horn and wood. Christelle never imagined that designing handmade jewelry and home accessories would be the passion of her life. Her parents gave her the seeds to that flourishing passion that started when she was a young child. Her mother worked for the Ministry of Tourism and her father for an airline company which meant culture and traveling were essential in her household. Having been raised between Europe and Haiti and having had the chance to travel in many places in Africa, Europe and the US provided the fuel to a growing curiosity for everything beautiful, especially in the arts and architecture. This experience encouraged her to make craft and jewelry her favorite pastime, even selling a few of her creations to classmates and friends.

After university, Christelle came back to Haiti and worked in the banking and corporate sector for fifteen years, which meant shelfing her favorite hobby. Seven years into her career, the itch to create her own jewelry struck again and this time nothing could stop her. First trying her creations with her colleagues, it slowly and surely developed into her fulltime activity and diversified into tableware, home décor, and custom made furniture. That is how Atelier Calla workshop opened in October 2011 and how many encounters have helped shape this self-taught designer into a reference in Haitian handmade craft in horn, bone, and wood.

Christelle has collaborated with internationally renowned designers such as Mrs. Donna Karan and Mrs. Isabel Encinias, Mrs. Chan Luu. She has produce product for companies in the USA which includes Macy’s, Elisa C., Miossa, Bloom and Grace. Atelier Calla has grown to include eighteen artisans who are deeply involved in the process of production, receive training to ensure the best results, and provide financially for their family.