Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Camargo.
Hi Anthony, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Sonora, a quiet mountain town in Northern California — beautiful to visit, but never the place where my life was meant to unfold. Even as a kid, I sensed that my world was somewhere beyond the hills and horses. I didn’t dream of nature; I dreamed of cities, of movement, of lights and possibility. I didn’t know what I would become, but I knew I wasn’t meant to stay still.
Modeling was the first unexpected doorway that opened. It took me from California to New York, then to Paris, and suddenly I was seeing the world through a very different lens. The runways, the fittings, the studios — all of it taught me something about presence and craft. I didn’t have language for it yet, but a seed was planted: I cared deeply about aesthetic, detail, and the way style could transform someone’s expression.
Los Angeles was where that seed took root. My time at Fred Segal remains one of the most important chapters of my life. Fred himself chose me as a mentee, and he taught me the business from the ground up — from cleaning bathrooms to buying lingerie to understanding the psychology of luxury retail. He believed in intention. He believed in quality. And he believed that true style never shouts; it whispers, and only the discerning hear it.
After a year of that schooling, he handed me my first store. That trust changed everything.
Seven years later, I stepped out on my own. San Francisco was my first independent venture, and it surprised me by revealing something I hadn’t fully owned: I wasn’t only a retailer — I was a creator. Then came Miami, and Miami was a turning point. South Beach was reinventing itself, and I opened a gallery called 1022, named only because those were the brass numbers on the building. The gallery became a destination almost immediately. Everything I made was one-of-a-kind, and everything sold. I didn’t think of myself as an artist yet, but the world was already calling me one.
The next chapter — jewelry — carried me into an entirely new realm.
My partner and I built Anthony Nak, and the brand resonated globally. Suddenly our pieces were being photographed for Vogue, InStyle, People, and worn by women whose names shaped culture. Our clients included First Lady Laura Bush, artists like Janet Jackson, icons such as Madonna and Jennifer Lopez, actresses like Naomi Watts, and many others whose presence defined red carpets and stages around the world.
For eight years, I worked with the White House on inaugural pieces. Barneys New York, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus — they all carried the line. At our height, we were in over 200 stores worldwide.
And then came a moment I’ll never forget: receiving the CFDA Award.
For a kid from Sonora, standing on that stage was surreal.
After twelve years of building that world, I stepped away. Not out of defeat — but out of instinct. I moved to Asia, lived quietly, rediscovered materials and process, and allowed myself to remember why creation mattered to me. When I returned, I launched a new brand with Saks and filmed a television show with Bravo. The experience taught me another important lesson: I will never trade authenticity for exposure. The edit of the show didn’t reflect who I am, so I walked away — and in the process, I lost the rights to design under my own name for a time.
It was a humbling moment, but it pushed me somewhere unexpected:
I became a personal trainer.
And I loved it.
Helping clients feel strong and grounded taught me as much about people as designing ever did. And one day, a client asked for a bracelet she could wear to the gym without damaging it. That simple request brought me back to design with a new clarity and a new purpose.
Today, I’m building Camargo Legacy Partners — a brand rooted not just in beauty, but in meaning. After decades in fashion, luxury, art, and wellness, I now design from a place of depth. Everything has energy. Everything tells a story. And everything I create now carries not only craft, but intention.
So how did I get here?
Not through a straight line. Not through a perfect plan.
But through following the doors that opened, doing the work, staying curious, and trusting the instinct that told me — since the days in Sonora — that my world was waiting somewhere bigger.
I’ve had a remarkable life. A full one. And what excites me most is that I’m still building.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Challenges show up in many ways, but the biggest obstacle in my journey has always been when someone doesn’t fully believe in themselves or doubts their own talent. I learned early on that constantly shifting with the wind never leads to real success. Fred Segal taught me never to compete—only to raise my own bar higher. When you do that, you create work that’s original, inventive, even iconic. That’s how Anthony Nak became recognizable.
I’ve never taken a jewelry class and I don’t follow the ‘proper’ way to make jewelry. I’ve been told something was impossible while the factory owner was holding the very piece I made. I’d ask, ‘If it can’t be done, then what’s in your hand?’
One of the greatest challenges is having to convince others of your value, talent, or vision. That’s a battle I don’t waste energy on anymore. I move forward until I find the people who say, ‘Let’s try.’ Those are the people worth building with.
We’ve been impressed with Camargo Legacy Partners , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
It began with a simple idea: a bracelet in the colors of the rainbow flag. I didn’t expect much from it. But that one piece sparked a movement — thousands of collectors around the world connecting to something joyful, meaningful, and inclusive. That response made me realize there was room to create something larger than a jewelry line. Something with purpose.
Every month on the calendar highlights a different cause — LGBTQ+ Pride, Mental Health Awareness, Foster Care Awareness, Breast Cancer Awareness, and so many others. Twelve months, twelve causes, all deserving of attention, visibility, and support. That was the seed of Camargo Legacy Partners.
My dream is to curate twelve organizations each year, each tied to a dedicated jewelry capsule. Every month we reinterpret our signature bracelet in the colors of that organization’s mission. We design a full collection of ten to fifteen pieces, incorporating their palette, symbols, and often their logo. We even attach a branded logo disk so each piece carries its story with it — something that makes it more than adornment. It becomes a reminder, a connection, a contribution.
We’re currently developing our first partnership with a healthcare network serving LGBTQ+ communities — including those living with HIV/AIDS — across six states. With offices here in Austin, it’s a natural match. We’ll be cross-branding, showcasing pieces in their corporate spaces, supporting their fundraisers, donating items for auctions, rewarding staff with pieces for milestones, and using authentic word-of-mouth within their community. The research is already done: their staff is excited, supportive, and eager to participate.
Sales will flow through events, but the long-term structure is digital — a click-and-buy model through our site and social platforms. Once that collection is solidified, I’ll begin building the next. And here’s the key: when a month is over, the cause doesn’t disappear. The collection stays available. We simply layer in the next one. It’s a model designed to build upon itself — thoughtfully, naturally, emotionally.
Jewelry is, after all, an emotional purchase. The ultimate vision is to create a store — one home where all twelve cause-driven collections live under the same roof, allowing people to shop beauty and support meaning at the same time.
Camargo Legacy Partners also includes two additional lines.
Limited — pieces crafted for my existing client base.
Vault — one-of-a-kind creations for collectors.
And Legacy, the third arm, ties everything together so each part supports the others.
Though we’re based in Austin, my long history with Anthony Nak connects us to clients and collaborators around the world. My husband, who is also my partner, is our CFO. My Godson is my executive assistant. Our social media liaison — who is also our model, our muse, and in many ways an adopted daughter — adds a brilliant generational perspective. Our artisans include new talent and craftsmen who’ve been with me for a decade or more. It truly is a family enterprise.
And part of building that family is giving back. We’ve recently partnered with a local jewelry school to help with production as we grow, reinvesting in our community, creating opportunities, and bringing new artisans into the fold. Our methods, perfected over years, are now known as The Anthony Way — a blend of precision, creativity, and heart.
Winning the CFDA Award will always be a milestone I cherish. But what I’m most proud of is the people around me now — the team that believes in this vision as deeply as I do, and the legacy we are building together. A legacy with meaning. A legacy meant to be left behind.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is simple: believe in yourself. If you don’t, no one else will. Confidence and being your raw, true self make all the difference, people can feel that.
When you stand firmly in who you are, others naturally believe in you too.
Pricing:
- Legacy prices are availble on the website
- Limited pricing is avaible on the website
- Vault is by invitation only those prices are upon request once the client has been curated
Contact Info:
- Website: https://camargolegacypartners.com/
- Instagram: camargolegacy
- Facebook: camargo_legacy_partners
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@camargolegacy
Image Credits
Cabe Lindsay & Audrey Love
