Hella Bigio is an innovative entrepreneur who was born and raised in Zurich, Switzerland. She moved to Israel for university where she studied Business, whilst simultaneously following her passion by taking jewellery classes. This led her to launch her fine jewellery brand Touti Bo in 2017.

 

Touti Bo collections are filled with iconic pieces that are timeless, yet preserve a bohemian flair. Family traditions, precious heirlooms, talismans and stories from the past inspire her to create legacy jewellery, that will be passed down through generations. 

At The Legacy Globe, we are collectively working alongside each other to leave lasting legacies which will empower future generations. How do you feel that your upbringing has shaped you?

 

I was raised in a devoted household by two parents who valued education and philanthropy over immediate gratification. My upbringing has also taught me how to approach different situations with a clear and calm mind which is extremely valuable. When I became a mother, I really appreciated how important my upbringing was and the importance of instilling the right values in our children. As parents, we have the responsibility to invest our resources towards raising intelligent, kind, independent and responsible humans. 

Touti Bo was created with the purpose of breathing in new life to the way we wear jewellery. Tell us about the creative process and inspiration behind your brand?

 

My love for jewellery roots from my own families heirloom pieces. When I was a little girl, I would spend hours going through my mother’s and grandmother’s jewellery boxes, unveiling treasure after treasure. This childhood ritual instilled in me my love for jewellery, but most importantly the sentimental value it bears. Whilst many family heirlooms are undoubtedly beautifully designed and crafted, I do feel like a lot of them are just not versatile or ‘ready to wear.’ I created Touti Bo with the aim of making beautiful jewellery pieces that can be worn by women, of all ages, and be passed down through generations. Being modular, the pieces leave a lot of the creative process to the wearer herself. She can choose from an array of capsule pieces, and curate her own individual jewel or stack. This creates a personalised and expressive experience for The Touti Bo Woman. 

What is the best advice that you have been given?

 

I consider myself very lucky to be surrounded by a lot of smart and experienced people, so I have heard a lot of wise words over the years. One simple but very valuable piece of advice from my grandmother that has stuck with me, is to not go to bed angry. Letting anger soak overnight allows it to grow and take up more space. No matter if you are angry at your partner, with a family member, a friend or a business associate, always try and talk it out before you go to sleep. 

How do you clear your mind and relax?

 

In between running Touti Bo and a family with young children, things tend to get hectic for me at times. While I love the fulfillment I get from my work as well as my family, I make it a priority to take a little time out of each day to do something just for myself. This time can either look like meeting for coffee with a friend, going for a walk outside, working out, or enjoying a date night with my husband. What I do depends on my needs and schedule on any given day. I also practice breathwork daily. 

What does the word Legacy mean to you and what Legacy do you want to leave?

 

To me this is a dynamic answer because our priorities change and evolve during different stages of our lives. While my personal and professional accomplishments are very important to me, what really matters today is how I raise my children. It is now while they are in their early childhood that I can teach them kindness and responsibility. Legacy in my opinion goes beyond one person having a positive impact, but educating the next generation to have one as well.

 

I see my grandparents today, who say that legacy to them is synonymous with family. Having experienced great professional and personal achievements, as well as being generous philanthropists, what they are most proud of is the family that they have created. I hope that I will experience the same joy of seeing the seeds that I plant grow, and come into fruition in the future