AGMES is renowned for its exquisite forms that evoke a sense of wonder for the natural world. Utilizing recycled metals and all-natural materials like pearls, each piece is handcrafted by New York artisans. As this sustainable brand approaches its tenth anniversary, it’s clear its beauty is more than skin deep. The jewelry’s allure is not found merely on the surface of its forms or products. We spoke with designer Morgan Lang, who through her creations, encourages us to reconnect with people, family, and nature.
left: Short Stella Earrings
right: Pearl Earrings
AGMES's jewelry feels both timeless and warm. To start, could you tell me about the philosophy at the core of the brand?
The philosophy of the brand really stems from my own way of life. Using natural materials and making an effort to recycle was a very natural decision for me. Having seen the wastefulness of the fashion industry firsthand as a buyer, I knew I wanted to create things with sincerity. Also, working closely with local artisans in New York and cherishing our community—down to the finest details like our packaging—has become the very heart of the brand.
Nine years ago, the idea of sustainability wasn't as mainstream as it is today, was it? Does that mean you came up with this whole concept of sustainability on your own?
For me, it was very important to support my local community and be directly involved in everything. Working closely and building long-term relationships with my team—and that means everyone, from all the jewelers to the people who produce our packaging—was essential. We also use American-made packaging and are constantly trying to iterate and improve upon it. I believe it’s necessary to avoid getting stuck in the status quo and to always think about what can be changed.
Your creations have a real sense of resonance with nature. It feels as if you're engaging with all of creation—the things that are invisible but truly exist.
I designed the “Symbols of Love” collection in the time leading up to my wedding. It was a period of great reflection, and I kept coming back to this idea of connection: connection with myself, with all the friends and family celebrating with me, and with the natural world—and how all of this has shaped who I am today, helped me grow, and sustained me. I kept thinking about trees and leaves, the foundational support of a strong trunk, leaves swaying in the wind, and the serenity you feel. It was such a reflective time, and I believe I was deeply in tune with myself then—with how I got to that point, and how the forces around me had helped to build, create, support, and be there for me. It was a very emotional and exciting time.
Vera Brooch
So that's what gives your work its warmth. Where do you draw your design inspiration from?
I’m constantly drawing inspiration from both nature and sculpture. On weekends, I leave the city to immerse myself in nature and feel its energy, but I’m also stimulated by the creative energy of New York. In the early days, I was often influenced by specific works of sculpture, but now I focus more on looking inward and cherishing the forms that arise from that process. For me, the shapes of nature and the sculptures made by human hands resonate with each other beautifully.
Wishbone necklace
Ilona Collection
With the ILONA COLLECTION, you focused on the fluidity and tranquility of water.
Water has always been a calming presence in my life. I’m drawn to its quiet strength, its fluid movement, and the way it reflects light and changes with its environment. As I worked with my hands, carving the wax or sketching the forms, I let the material and my intuition guide me in shaping the pieces.
Ilona Collection
I understand that a passion for sculpture is at the foundation of the brand. How do you view the relationship between nature and sculpture?
Now that AGMES is approaching its 10th anniversary, I’ve found myself reflecting more than ever on the trajectory of this dream and the path we’ve taken. That’s what makes the brand’s initial styles feel even more special to me now. While recent collections have been grounded in inspiration from New York City—a place that nurtures, stimulates, and always helps me grow—and while both my life and AGMES have evolved, as seen in the “Symbols of Love” collection born from my marriage a few years ago, the foundational feelings remain the same. By reintroducing those early designs, I wanted to shape something that connects naturally with this “new present.” It’s a feeling mixed with nostalgia and anticipation for what’s to come.
My creations have always been, and will continue to be, deeply influenced by modern art, architecture, nature, and human connection. The pieces in this collection are rooted in those same elements.
Long Marta Earrings
In reinterpreting the forms of Brutalism for this collection, I found myself strongly drawn to artists like Barbara Hepworth, Isamu Noguchi, and Marta Pan. While their work may not be strictly Brutalist, they share a common emphasis on weight, presence, and the poetic beauty of form. There is a quiet strength in the way they use negative space, and the sculptures themselves feel somehow grounded, yet at the same time, evoke a flowing softness.
The desire to explore the space between these dualities—softness and strength, past and future, permanence and change—is at the heart of this collection.
left: Wishbone neckless
right: Gizelle Cuff
What is your design process like?
I’m always sketching and creating. Sometimes I feel a very strong pull, like from a dream, and I have to immediately try and create it. Other times, I might be exhausted and not thinking about it much, but I just start working and let the pencil or the shape guide me. I’ll just be sketching randomly, and when I take a step back and look at it, the forms reveal themselves to me.
What are your thoughts on your brand's growth and your vision for the future?
To see the brand resonate across cultures is incredibly humbling and heartwarming. Even when we don’t speak the same language, design connects the world.
There are challenges today in finding artisans in New York, and I hope to be able to help further through training, giving back to our community, and building each other up in that way. As we continue to grow, the question is how do we strengthen that foundation and build upon it? How do we give back through all of it—the sustainable components, the community, the love, the connection? I think we’re still just babies in our journey.
Sculpted Heart Pendant
What internal changes or emotional impact do you hope your designs bring to the person who wears them?
I hope to evoke a sense of connection. Not just to the jewelry itself, but also to the larger stories it symbolizes. I want wearing an AGMES piece to be an experience that goes beyond mere adornment. My hope is that it feels like carrying a story, a moment, or a memory, and that this creates a deeper emotional resonance.
Ilona collection
If you had to choose one representative piece from all of AGMES’s work, which would it be?
The Giselle Cuff, a large and powerful cuff bracelet I designed for the Astrid Collection. At the time, I had just returned from a trip where I experienced a lot of nature, and I felt a bit taken aback by the jarring gap upon returning to New York. But that feeling gave me a chance to pause and reflect, and I was reminded of how much the city can lift you up with its energy and its creative geniuses. This city is surrounded by constant movement, talent, art, and music; it’s always buzzing.
The Giselle Cuff acts as a form of protection, almost like armor. It’s meant to give the wearer the inner strength needed to ground themselves and face the world. It’s a bold piece that makes a statement, yet it also possesses a softness in its curves. That very presence represents my wish for the wearer to feel a sense of strength, beauty, and resilience.
Giselle Cuff
