Style Q&A: Vancouver company uses decaying plant matter to create jewelry designs
Credit to Author: Aleesha Harris| Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2020 19:00:25 +0000
Vancouver-based jewelry designer Aland Irène doesn’t just look to nature for inspiration for her designs. She actually uses it.
To create pieces for the latest collection of her eponymous line, Irène used decaying plant matter as both a starting point for inspiration — and a physical basis for her creations.
We caught up with the goldsmith and designer to learn more.
Q: When and why did you get into jewelry design?
A: It was 13 years ago, during a beginner’s night course for ring-making that I picked up my first torch. I was mesmerized by the power and potential of the flame and knew that I’d found my calling in that moment. I decided to enrol in the Jewellery Art and Design Program at Vancouver Community College. There, I discovered the endless possibilities of using metal as a creative medium. I was inspired by the abundance of tools and loved detecting all the properties of the gemstone varieties from around the world with my refractometer and microscope.
Q: For those who aren’t familiar, what do you create?
A: I create handmade, one-of-a-kind jewelry inspired by nature. As a designer, it is my goal to create timeless treasures, wearable art to be cherished and passed down from generation to generation as an heirloom. I want the wearer to feel empowered and inspired by a piece of jewelry that is as unique as them.
Jewelry designer Aland Irene.
Q: What makes your designs unique?
A: My latest handmade collection, The Sonora Line, is a perfect example of what makes my designs unique and shows my interest in nature’s intricate details. I created this series of solid-gold rings from a decaying plant that I had found eight years ago. I noticed the beautiful lace-like fibrous material that remained and knew I had to add it to my collection of curiosities for future use. It had an ethereal quality to it and wove together like an intricate three-dimensional road map.
Each ring takes weeks to make, starting with my sketchbook and a pencil. The plant is carefully sectioned off and shaped in preparation for a method called casting, where it’s placed in a cylinder with a clay-like investment and burned out in a kiln. This leaves a negative space in the investment, which allows the molten metal to fill the space and create an exact replica of the delicate organics in the form of solid gold. The metal is then further worked, shaped, filed, polished and finished with the setting of the stones. The sculptural bohemian-style statement rings represent years of work, dedication and the importance of seeking beauty in unlikely places.
Q: Who is your target customer?
A: My clients find me just as much as I find them. A mutual love of nature brings us together. My clients know what they want and aren’t afraid to treat themselves. They surround themselves with meaningful things and they appreciate the work that goes into a handmade piece of jewelry. From France to New York, Vancouver to Hawaii, London to New Zealand — my clients come from around the world and are of all ages.
Q: Where are the products designed/made?
A: My jewelry is designed and handmade in my home studio. Every component is made from scratch, starting with the melting of the metal. I create my own wire, sheet metal, stone settings, chains and findings. Sometimes people have a hard time visualizing what this means, but essentially, if you were to find a gold nugget, that is where my designs start, followed by an extensive amount of physical labour to get them to their finished state.
Q: Is there a piece or collection that’s proved most popular? If so, which one and why?
A: My Sonora Line was recently accepted into a curated collection of jewelry and art at the renowned Los Angeles boutique, Roseark. It is thrilling to be there among such talented jewellers. My custom engagement rings are also popular. My clients want a ring that reflects the depth of their relationship and the bond that they share. They want their significant other to know that there was great thought and care put into the ring. I love creating these meaningful jewelry pieces for my clients and their loved ones and am always so honoured to be part of their special day.
Q: What is the price range for your jewelry designs?
A: Prices reflect the metals, gemstones and time that went into each piece. Typically they fall in the $300-$4,000 range.
Q: Where can people check them out?
A: The Sonora Line is currently available at alandirene.ca and in store at Roseark, located in West Hollywood. New pieces are added to my website weekly, so I encourage people to check back often. You can also follow my work on Instagram @alandirenedesign for a behind-the-scenes look at my workbench. My followers enjoy watching the creative process and even help me pick gemstones!
Q: Lastly, what’s next?
A: I will continue to take custom orders and create new pieces for The Sonora Line, but I am also working to develop my next collection inspired by my travels in Africa, which I hope to release this summer. Check out my Instagram for sneak peeks. I’m also finding inspiration right now as a new mom. My one-year-old son Leonard is my most beautiful and wondrous creation to date.