From her home base and office in Paris to the company’s facilities in Israel, Poland, and Belgium, Evens is a globetrotter at home amongst different countries and cultures. But between managing a billion-dollar business and creating works of fine, wearable art, she admits her greatest goal is to bring people of all walks of life together.

GSTAADLIFE interviewed Evens in Gstaad, where she spent equal time relaxing and working in the Saanenland sunshine this summer.

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GSTAADLIFE: Goralska is an unusual name. What are its origins?

Corinne Evens: Goral means “destiny” in Hebrew, while “ska” is the feminine suffix in several Slavic languages. Loosely translated, Goralska represents female destiny. 

GL: Do you feel that you yourself represent this successful female destiny, as head of the Evens Group?

CE: The company was originally founded by my father when he was rough diamond trader in Antwerp.  It diversified through the years and I’ve been managing it for the past two decades. I manage the Group, which holds real estate, private equity, and investments, as well as Goralska, our jewellery company. We also have impact investment and philanthropy sections. And, yes, the name somewhat embodies and projects my own destiny, because my first duty was to manage and grow the family’s assets before granting myself the space and time to create and design Goralska’s line.

GL: When was the jewellery line established, and why?

CE: I took over management of the Group from my father, who passed away in 1996. We had always wanted to start a jewellery line but we were so busy with other projects we simply didn’t have time. But it stayed on my mind, and I was determined to make it happen, and in 2013, I did.

GL: Do you consider yourself an artist?

CE: I have a real creative side, so the design comes easily to me. Goralska’s pieces are really artistic creations, not your standard jewellery.

GL: Does your family have a Slavic background?

CE: I was born in Antwerp to Polish parents, who were from Warsaw. They left Warsaw just one week before the German bombings and destruction of the city. My parents were both members of the Resistance but met again seriously after leaving Poland, at which point they moved to France. Then they came to Belgium in the early 50’s, where I was born. My uncle had a diamond business in Antwerp, so my parents eventually joined him there.

GL: Is Polish your mother tongue?

CE: Unfortunately my Polish isn’t very good, but I’m told I have quite an authentic accent…it’s a very difficult language. I do speak French, Flemish, and English though.

GL: You have a scientific side as well, don’t you?

CE: Yes, I studied mathematics are university including theoretical and abstract concepts. Maths is actually a very creative field. It helps with both the business side and the artistic side of jewellery making.

GL: Where are you based at the moment?

CE: I moved to Paris in the 80’s but came back to Belgium to start in the family business around 1990. I came back to Paris in 1998, where one of the Evens Group offices is based. I started in real estate in Paris before taking over the Group, so it seemed like a logical step, needless to say from an artistic and cultural viewpoint, Paris is a major hub.

GL: In addition to the family businesses, you have created the Evens Foundation, is that correct?

CE: The Evens Foundation was conceived and founded by my family and some close family friends in 1990. It’s a Belgian foundation but we work all over Europe. We give prizes every two years in various fields. The four prizes include honours for media education, peace education, neuroscience and conflict behaviour, as well as an art prize. Besides the prizes, the foundation initiates all sorts of programmes in media, peace, and civil society throughout Europe.

GL: And your relationship with the Jewish Museum in Warsaw?

CE: Our philanthropic department has worked closely to establish the new Polish Jewish Museum (Polin) in Warsaw, which is truly an extraordinary place. To support the museum we created the European Association of Polin. The museum tells the story of Polish Jews and their relation to Poland itself. Poland has a complicated history in Europe, as do the Jews of course. The museum is not just filled with artefacts; it’s highly interactive and in each gallery you can dive deeply into the details with multimedia displays. It has also an important educational goal to fulfil. We have already 1 million visitors per year from all Poland as well as all over the world.

GL: Does the Evens Group only focus on Jewish causes?

CE: We have projects on the Palestinian side as well as in Israel. Evens Group has an industrial park that is a real estate impact investment that’s a private-public partnership with both French and Palestinian companies in addition to the French government. We hope to boost entrepreneurship in Palestine and help young Palestinians to develop their business ideas and company infrastructure. The idea is to open up relations to Palestinians with the Western world and build a cultural bridge. We also have specific programmes to encourage women, through microcredits, who are often neglected professionally in the region.

Evens Foundation supported the Menuhin Festival in years past, and Yehudi was a wonderful man with important cultural significance.

GL: Where can one find Goralska jewellery in the Saanenland?

CE: I am a regular long-time guest in Gstaad and I think it’s a fantastic place for Goralska. We have a great working relationship with Lorenz Bach, where Goralska jewellery is available for purchase.

GL: Is there a plan to expand Goralska further?

CE: Our designs are available in Paris at our boutique and also select partner stores, and we hope to expand to London and New York shortly. Although since the Brexit vote, our UK plans are somewhat up in the air.

GL: Does Goralska feature certain stones or special designs?

CE: We are launching a new line called the “Earth Line” any day now. We are also developing a new line called “Missible” which is high-end with a lot of small diamonds and sapphires. I did create some special designs, in a line called “The Day” after the tragic events in Paris last year, which has two pieces created specifically in commemoration of those lives lost.

GL: Fitting with your personal beliefs, do you ensure Goralska jewellery is made in a way that does not support conflict in developing countries where stones are sourced?

CE: Making jewellery is a complicated process. First you need the raw materials. I try to source them in a responsible way, which is more complicated for the small stones than for the larger stones. Still, this aspect of the business is very important to me.

GL: How do you spend your time in Gstaad?

CE: My favourite thing to do in the Saanenland is…nothing! I have a chalet outside Rougemont and it’s a lovely simple place to relax. I enjoy meeting friends as well, but most of all, the region is a place to recharge my batteries.

GL: You’re here now in Gstaad to enjoy a holiday?

CE: Yes, but I’m also here working to present Goralska to the greater public. We have a space in the Menuhin tent this year, where I invite all your readers to stop in say hello and discover our jewellery.