The following feature appears in the March 2017 issue of NYLON Guys.
By sheer serendipity, Mark Armstrong Peddigrew’s initials spell “M.A.P.” A love for both travel and history serves as inspiration for his jewelry line, Cartography. Here, we chat with the designer about his business, his process, and his next far-flung destination.
How did Cartography get started?
Cartography was born out of sleepless nights in the back of a tour bus named Buffy while I was a roadie with Rufus Wainwright. We both shared a love for antiquing and would spend our days off exploring markets and shops. I started placing bits and bobs on necklaces, making gifts for friends in New York whose special occasions I was missing because of life on the road. One thing led to another, I started getting requests, and boom! I unwittingly started a business.
Where do you source your materials from?
Pasadena’s Rose Bowl and Brimfield in Massachusetts are my favorite markets. For the jewelry I create from scratch, it is all manufactured in the U.S. between Rhode Island and New York.
Tell us a bit about your design process.
I draw from my life and what I love. I feel like it’s important to have a narrative in my work. I think the relationship and backstory to collections are especially important in jewelry, because jewelry is not a random purchase, like a T-shirt. It tends to represent something deeper for the customer and, as such, the weight behind the thought that goes into making it should match the thought going into buying it. The mechanics of my process are quite standard: sketch an idea out, carve its wax, send to the manufacturer for mold-making and casting.
What is your dream travel destination?
Lately, I’ve been thinking a trip to Antarctica would be pretty rad.
Cartography, $100-$2,500, available at Cartography. See some of our favorite styles below.
