Ripley

I was first drawn to making jewellery because, like most designers, the attention to detail really appealed to me. I also loved the idea of creating work that could be worn everyday - a ring or a necklace that would literally experience your day with you. 

After graduating from school, I felt a deep sense of imposter syndrome. I wasn't sure where I fit into the world of fine jewellery, and I didn't feel like the work I wanted to make fit into the mould of what fine jewellery is considered to be.  

My first collection, Ripley, is a response to those feelings of inadequacy. Ripley is about learning to work with the critical voice in your head and accepting that beauty also lives in our mistakes. When we accept our failures as much as our successes, they both end up benefiting us in much the same way. The first Ripley ring felt like a failure because I had accidentally marred the smooth surface that I had worked so hard to perfect. Now, those marks are deliberate and intentional. I highlight them through oxidation, bringing my missteps to the forefront. You never know when your mistakes are going to carry you. 

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Submitted by Danielle Bartlett.