Heart on your sleeve: Oria Jewellery

Jewellery makers with a heart, Tania and Syvonne of Oria were the friendliest duo in estethica and their ethical collections in silver and gold are a must-see for everyone. Eleni Sardi writes.

Tania Kowalski and Syvonne Saelthun launched Oria Jewellery in 2007 bringing a combined 25 years of experience in jewellery making and a complete ethical approach to the brand.

The company’s profile in the estethica brochure published by the British Fashion Council and Monsoon describes how each collection has a story and a genuine inspiration behind it. And that is what Tania and Syvonne also told me when I met them at their stand at London Fashion Week.

After many long days at the stand and a trip to Germany for an expo there, Tania froze for a second trying to remember the specific significance of the Phoenix symbol used for the Nina collection. ‘It’s a symbol for rebirth, honesty and justice’ she exclaimed as soon as she remembered and then she picked up a charm bracelet with the biggest smile on her face. She showed it off with the greatest sense of pride: ‘It’s a panda’, she said. ‘It’s my favourite animal.’ As she held the bracelet she told me about the photo she loves that was published in a paper some years ago and has been her screensaver ever since: baby pandas under the care of a tireless worker who plays with them to keep them entertained.

Their love for endangered animals was also behind the endangered species collection with 10% of the profits from the sale going to the IUCN Red List. The beautiful designs include owls, lions and wolves while the other main collection, the silver Lotus holds a symbolism of femininity, beauty and purity. The pair have also just launched a gorgeous collection in gold named Star which is bound to become a best-seller and as always they provide bespoke solutions for weddings and all kinds of special occasions.

Jewellery makers with a vision, Tania and Syvonne have worked hard to ensure that all the ingredients they use are fairly traded. Sourcing silver from artisanal miners in Bolivia who employ methods that do not involve the use of cyanide or mercury for extraction and gold from the famed Eco Andina cooperative mine in Argentina, they believe in a mining process that respects the people and the environment that provide the precious metals.

The beads and stones in their collections come from Brazil, Kenya and Mali supporting the Kimberley process which aims to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the trade. But it’s not just their materials that mark the company’s philosophy. Their offices are wind-powered and all the packaging is recycled.

Oria Jewellery really seems to have the whole package: ethics, design, vision. That feeling was reinforced when I returned home to find the photo of the baby pandas that Tania loves in my inbox. Inspired by what they love, they’ve created an ethical brand that will stand the test of time.

Visit Oria Jewellery online.