Gisele Theriault, designer of the Barber’s Daughters collection, identifies herself with a growing movement called Sacred Commerce. Sacred Commerce reverses the common assumption that business and spirituality are mutually exclusive, and instead, looks at business as a path of destiny.
Gisele traces her spiritual principles to a childhood accident, when she was hit by a drunk driver at the age of 10 and had a near death experience. Theriault was not expected to survive and remembers an out of body experience, which she believes changed her forever for the better, and imbued in her a sense of gratitude.
Gisele Theriault’s work was also inspired by the studies of Japanese writer, Dr. Masuru Emoto (author of Hidden Messages in Water).
He discovered that the vibration of words had a profound effect on water molecules that he photographed. Dr. Emoto found that microscopic pictures of water influenced by positive words created beautiful snowflakes, and negative words created pictures that looked like diseased cells or mucky mud puddles. Dr. Emoto hypothesized that since the human body is made up of 70% water, positive words worn upon our bodies would have the same effect.
Gisele Theriault grew up in Cape Breton, Canada and was a barber’s daughter - her father being the ultimate source of her inspiration as an artist. Her father’s barber shop was a place where friends would gather to share tales of joy and heartache in a place they felt safe and welcome. Gisele’s father would recount these stories to his family at the evening dinner table, and Gisele was inspired by the humanity and spirit they conveyed.
With a strong sense of symmetry and destiny, Gisele gave birth to her son 5 years to the day of her father’s death, and she has been designing jewelry since 1990. Many of her pieces are inscribed with the words of her father, along with those of famous thinkers and even herself! The Barber’s Daughters collection includes necklaces, pendants, earrings, bracelets, rings and watches which are composed of sterling silver, natural stones, and Venetian glass. She hand inscribes her motivational and inspirational sayings directly onto the pieces.
Gisele’s jewelry has been well received by Hollywood celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Halle Berry and, in the fall of 2010, she will launch a line of jewelry in collaboration with musician and actress, Alicia Keys.
When asked about her collaboration with Gisele Theriault and The Barber’s Daughters collection, Alicia Keys said, “I love Gisele’s work. I feel like I’m wearing art. I love how each piece is so individual, beautiful, handcrafted and one-of-a-kind. But, by far, my favorite part is the words that are written. They remind me of the things I want to hold onto every day. It feels, in a way, like a shield.” Her goal for her collaboration with Gisele Theriault is, “to give people beautiful, unique pieces with messages that ignite them to find the best within.”
To learn more about Sacred Commerce, watch the Sacred Commerce series on YouTube at
To learn more about the studies of Dr. Emoto and the power of positive words, watch this Youtube video:
Handmade Gift Place is very excited to carry Gisele Theriault’s Barber’s Daughters collection and support Gisele’s mission of Sacred Commerce. See below for a collection of the inspired messages that can be found on the jewelry of the Barber’s Daughters collection. For further inspiration, see Gisele’s entire Barber’s Daughter collection.
