The Signature Founders
Managing Director/Creative Director
Signature Collection Co-Founder
Born in Trinidad on November 9, educated at Bishop Anstey High School and U.W.I., Mona Jamaica
Trained as a chemist, she holds a B.Sc. in that subject from the University of the West Indies.
Gillian Bishop is also a designer having been born into a family of craftspeople who have long known the relationship between mind, eye and hand.
Her craft as a jeweller has been nurtured in the school of the Trinidad Carnival and her earliest work began in costume design, a discipline which she has never abandoned.
The daughter of one of Trinidad’s most famous couturiers, Gillian cut her teeth in the business of fashion and costume design. Consequently, she brings to her work in precious stones and metals the disciplines of the scientist together with the eye and the spirit of the Carnival, which remains a crucial source of inspiration and concern.
She has worked as a full time jeweller and craftsman since 1972.
Her work is held in private collections in North America, Canada, The United Kingdom, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Australia, Israel, Malta, and throughout the Caribbean.
Production Director /Designer
Signature Collection Co-Founder
Born in Trinidad on December 5, this step-son of a famous Guyanese Master-jeweller, Darrell, was taught jewellery literally at his father’s knee.
In 1966 he travelled to Canada and enrolled at Ryerson College to pursue a course in jewellery techniques and factory management.
In 1975, having become an accomplished jewellery caster, he returned to Trinidad to manage the casting department of one of Trinidad’s major jewellery manufacturers.
In 1989, Darrell teamed up with Gillian Bishop and founded The Signature Collection now trading as Atelier Signature 2020 whose mission placed more emphasis on fewer but more finely crafted pieces of jewellery and which was soon to include a unique cultural product called Glitterwood.
In the crafting of this product, Darrell used the ancient technique known as piercing, which he learned from his father and which he taught to all trainee craftsmen at Signature. Intricate motifs of brass and copper are cut entirely by hand and these are used to embellish finely sanded wooden items.
This product innovation remained one of his greatest passions.
Sadly Darrell died in June 2015, leaving the Signature Collection a legacy of design excellence and innovation and an unparalleled work ethic
MISSION STATEMENT
The MISSION of the Signature Collection Limited is to push forward and remain at the leading edge of the Creative Arts Industry in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.
In achieving this, Signature makes use of indigenous skills and materials; maintains utmost respect for our country and its people; and restricts the use of imported materials to those which cannot be substituted locally. Each piece on display is local in design, original in concept and given equal exposure and consideration in its presentation to customers.
CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS:
We treat all customers and suppliers as individuals; we conduct all transactions with them with sensitivity and the highest regard for integrity and ethical behavior.
EMPLOYEES:
We treat all employees as equals with an equal stake in the success of the enterprise. We remain open to their ideas and involve them as much as possible in day to day business affairs. Our commitment to their well-being extends as well to their families. We expect them to apply the same principles in their relations with each other, as well as with designers and shareholders.
DESIGNERS:
We expect all designers to be committed to excellence in performance and finish; to respect the art of all other designers; to maintain a spirit of openness, collaboration and sharing; and to avoid unhealthy rivalry and conflict.
SHAREHOLDERS:
We have a responsibility to provide maximum returns to shareholders, without sacrifice of any of the above principles.