All photos courtesy of Nathalie Andersson

It’s the eight of March today, which means it’s time to celebrate women! ♀!

We decided we would celebrate in our own way by interviewing Nathalie Andersson, a Sweden based jewelry designer who calls herself the feminist smith. Nathalie exclusively makes jewelry embellished with trans–and female gender symbols and the demand for her delicate necklaces and earrings studded with the venus symbol is steadily increasing.

We asked Nathalie what made her decide to become a smith, the weirdest custom order request she’s received and how she will celebrate international women’s day this year.

VICE: Hi Nathalie! A lot of people make jewelry but you’re the only one we’ve come across who makes exclusively female and transgender jewelry. How did you get into that?
Nathalie Andersson: I started making feminist jewelry in silver and gold in my living room, and then selling it online as a hobby. Right away, I noticed a huge demand for them. I had previously been looking [for feminist jewelry] but I had only been able to find bijoux and impure metal pieces with a lot of toxins that had the female gender symbols on them, and most of them were big and cocky. I felt that there was a need to show how many of us are feminists and that’s why I began making female gender symbols that were smaller and less brash and more suitable for work or school. I want the female gender symbol to arouse an interest and forge creative discussions, not create negativity when it comes to feminism.

How did you become a goldsmith in the first place?
I enrolled at goldsmith college when I was 15 years old because it seemed fun and I wasn’t really a genius in school. Creating something with my hands was something I really enjoyed. After graduation I tried out a couple of odd jobs but I never did let go of my dream of becoming a proper smith. After a couple of years I became a journeyman smith and after that I started working as a smith with a jeweler in Stockholm where I stayed for four years. When I was there I developed asthma due to all the polishing I was doing and when I finally went on sick leave I was fired. That’s when I saw my chance to start my own business in order to regulate my own working methods so I wouldn’t become more ill. And today I have never felt better.

Nathalie Andersson

Who is your typical customer and what do they usually want?
They’re feminists of all ages, it’s not like a special type. The most popular item I sell is the small handmade feminist-symbol in silver – I always run out of them so I haven’t even had the time to make any for myself.

What’s the weirdest customer order you’ve got?
A man called in and wanted to order a piece of clitoris jewelry for his wife as a gift. After ten minutes of him telling me the proper details of how he wanted it to be designed and what size it should be, he told me he would come in with his wife instead so that we could do some measurement. Fortunately, he never showed up.

Yikes. Have you come across any nasty comments because of the symbols you make?
Only from men that feel left out. Sometimes they comment on why I don’t make the male symbol too, but it’s because we don’t need it. I see the female gender symbol as a symbol for feminism so men should be able to wear it too. Some men have even told me that my concept is “never going to work”. Proper mansplaining.

Will you celebrate the international women’s day with a special type of jewelry?
I have designed a female gender symbol in 18 carat gold with small diamonds that I’m going to wear.

You can read more about Nathalie and her jewelry on her webpage.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.