Without jewelry, a woman’s beauty is considered incomplete. It’s like a body without soul. We know why! Jewels add a mesmeric touch to her personality that we men often get drawn to. For the most part, she is understood to be the epitome of beauty when wearing her bejeweled collections on special occasions or in general. And making it happen with utmost pride is a bunch of incredibly talented haute jewelry designers who are creating out of the box jewelry pieces. In this race, the one name close to making it big and certainly turning heads at the moment is a London-based jewelry designer Anabela Chan.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News, we sat down with her to discuss what drove her to become a jewelry designer, what it means to her and much more.
Anabela’s passion for jewels began to develop when she and her sister were sent to attend boarding school in England at the age of 10. While they were here, their mother moved to Paris. One everyday activity that they always used to go out for with their mother while growing up was strolling across Place Vendome, an extraordinarily posh square of the city, on weekends. “I would be completely mesmerized by the magnificent jewels in the windows, and yet my older sister (who is a scientist/engineer) would be the complete opposite, impatient and not interested at all,” she says.
As Anabela turned 16, she was fortunate to meet and interview the late Andrew Grima (who paved the way for modern jewelry design in Britain in the 1960s) at the Burlington Arcade for a school art project. He showed her his incredibly unique jewels and objets d’art, and she ended up showing him her own sketches. “Meeting him was the turning point in my life. What I had in mind was the idea to cast the finest French lace in platinum, and he was kind enough to ask his workshop to experiment for me. This was my first encounter with fine jewelry craftsmanship and I was hooked ever since,” she says. In order to give shape to her dream of becoming a jewelry designer, Anabela enrolled at the prestigious Royal College of Art in London, from where she completed her Master of Arts in goldsmithing and jewelry.
Things that bring a unique feel to her pieces are the timeless craftsmanship of high jewelry entwined with a modern wearability and a joyful playfulness reminiscent of one’s childhood dreams. “I want to create magical, fun and fabulous jewels that tell stories. It’s about offering inspiring, beautifully-crafted jewels with longevity; works of art that are worn, loved and treasured forever,” she says.
Behind Anabela’s stunning jewel designs lies the real influence of her inspiration which always makes her create the much endearing jewelry. She is inspired by anything that moves her, and she finds her own voice in those things yet there is something far more important than that. “Nature is my biggest source of inspiration as I think it’s where the most beautiful colors, geometries, textures, proportions and forms are found. I’m obsessed with exotic birds and butterflies in particular; their mesmerizing colors, their variety, their freedom. There is something almost magical about their flight that seems to symbolize the very idea of imagination,” she says. “I’m passionate about traveling to exotic places to experience the wonders of nature; the jungle and the sea are two of my favorite places to be.”
Another plus point that she enjoys, in fact, stems from her architectural training. It brings out her uncompromising attention to detail and obsession with perfection. “I think the sensibility of scale, proportion, geometry, materiality and storytelling are all very similar traits shared by jewelers and architects,” Anabela says.
Way before launching her eponymous label in 2013, she spent her early period of life working for Lord Richard Rogers and Alexander McQueen for seven years thanks to her stupendous expertise in the field of print and embroidery design.
For her, imagining is an adorable weapon in order to describe a woman’s appearance in the most elegant way she can think of. After all, she reckons herself to be a very visual person. “I love to photograph, draw, sketch, paint and model my ideas from the initial inspiration to the finished product. I always start with the gemstones, the idea and the design of the jewelry first, and as it evolves, I sculpt it to the body to ensure it’s comfortable and flattering to wear,” she says.
Buoyed by the enchanting designs of Anabela’s jewelry, celebrities like Lady Gaga, Rita Ora and FKA Twigs have already been spotted wearing her pieces. “I’m fortunate that they have shown their liking for my creations. It feels great,” she says. “Now I would like to create one-of-a kind pieces for Karl Lagerfeld. It’s something that I really want to do.”
Anabela works on three engaging lines namely couture, fantasy and fine jewelry making her brand fit for every woman out there. Each has its own wow factor.
Her couture collection consists of only two collections per year, with ten unique pieces per collection. “Through my travels I collect unusual gems and treasures from local markets, nature and the unusual people I meet. With this knowledge in my hands, I get on with my job of creating unique editions of couture jewelry. Each piece is one-of-a-kind; a storytelling treasure that can be worn or displayed alike,” she says.
When it comes to her fantasy jewels collection, it’s all about offering the magic of fine jewelry using a combination of semi-precious and sustainable, ethical lab-grown gemstones which are optically equivalent to natural stones. The same meticulous process is used to handcraft every jewel; every story begins by hand-carving the designs in wax before casting in parts, then assembling, polishing and engraving in meticulous detail. Every stone is carefully selected for its brilliance and color; then cut, faceted, polished and set painstakingly by hand using traditional artisan techniques. “It allows for my complete freedom in creativity and design and it’s accessible to a much broader demographic,” she says.
Her fine jewelry collection is more or less about reinventing the diamond ring for the modern woman using the lab approach.
“I know it’s perhaps slightly rebellious, a part tongue-in-cheek approach to fine jewelry. But it’s worth it considering the value and beauty in design and the incredible craftsmanship of our human hands, in unison with the wonders of our creative minds,” she says.
She loves to work with an array of different gemstones for its variety, colors and unique qualities. From diamonds to emeralds, sapphires to citrines and garnets to tourmalines sourced around the world, the possibilities she says are endless. “I love opals; mysterious opals contain the wonders of the skies — sparkling rainbows, fireworks, and lightning, shifting and moving in their depths,” Anabela says.
The Middle East is an inexplicably important market for her to keep an eye on, where women are more inclined to splurge on extravagant pieces of jewelry as she explains, “The first time I showcased my collections in the Middle East was when I won the Vogue Talents Award with Vogue Italia in partnership with The EMAAR in Dubai, and it was an incredible experience. I do have clients from the region and I would love to be represented in the Middle East and return in the near future.”
Like all women seeking joy in their jewelry, Anabela too has her own style statement. She prefers an ever-evolving mix of both the classic and eclectic, and high-end pieces with independent designers and high-street scores. “Needless to say, I have an obsession with bold jewelry that I will easily wear with jeans and a t-shirt by day and with a cocktail dress by night,” she points out.
More importantly, Anabela’s sense of empowerment comes from designing jewelry only as she puts it, “It brings joy, inspires emotions and elevates the spirit like no other. I also love jewelry’s longevity to transcend generations. It’s timeless and it doesn’t decay or go away; it’s a chance to hold onto the past and at the same time reach out to the future, and I find that endearingly romantic.”
As the brand continues to herald a new chapter one after another, she would like to boost its popularity far and wide. “In addition to our London flagship boutique at the beautiful Ham Yard Hotel in Piccadilly, I would love to open two further stand alone gallery boutiques in Hong Kong and Paris, the 3 cities I call home,” she says.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News, we sat down with her to discuss what drove her to become a jewelry designer, what it means to her and much more.
Anabela’s passion for jewels began to develop when she and her sister were sent to attend boarding school in England at the age of 10. While they were here, their mother moved to Paris. One everyday activity that they always used to go out for with their mother while growing up was strolling across Place Vendome, an extraordinarily posh square of the city, on weekends. “I would be completely mesmerized by the magnificent jewels in the windows, and yet my older sister (who is a scientist/engineer) would be the complete opposite, impatient and not interested at all,” she says.
As Anabela turned 16, she was fortunate to meet and interview the late Andrew Grima (who paved the way for modern jewelry design in Britain in the 1960s) at the Burlington Arcade for a school art project. He showed her his incredibly unique jewels and objets d’art, and she ended up showing him her own sketches. “Meeting him was the turning point in my life. What I had in mind was the idea to cast the finest French lace in platinum, and he was kind enough to ask his workshop to experiment for me. This was my first encounter with fine jewelry craftsmanship and I was hooked ever since,” she says. In order to give shape to her dream of becoming a jewelry designer, Anabela enrolled at the prestigious Royal College of Art in London, from where she completed her Master of Arts in goldsmithing and jewelry.
Things that bring a unique feel to her pieces are the timeless craftsmanship of high jewelry entwined with a modern wearability and a joyful playfulness reminiscent of one’s childhood dreams. “I want to create magical, fun and fabulous jewels that tell stories. It’s about offering inspiring, beautifully-crafted jewels with longevity; works of art that are worn, loved and treasured forever,” she says.
Behind Anabela’s stunning jewel designs lies the real influence of her inspiration which always makes her create the much endearing jewelry. She is inspired by anything that moves her, and she finds her own voice in those things yet there is something far more important than that. “Nature is my biggest source of inspiration as I think it’s where the most beautiful colors, geometries, textures, proportions and forms are found. I’m obsessed with exotic birds and butterflies in particular; their mesmerizing colors, their variety, their freedom. There is something almost magical about their flight that seems to symbolize the very idea of imagination,” she says. “I’m passionate about traveling to exotic places to experience the wonders of nature; the jungle and the sea are two of my favorite places to be.”
Another plus point that she enjoys, in fact, stems from her architectural training. It brings out her uncompromising attention to detail and obsession with perfection. “I think the sensibility of scale, proportion, geometry, materiality and storytelling are all very similar traits shared by jewelers and architects,” Anabela says.
Way before launching her eponymous label in 2013, she spent her early period of life working for Lord Richard Rogers and Alexander McQueen for seven years thanks to her stupendous expertise in the field of print and embroidery design.
For her, imagining is an adorable weapon in order to describe a woman’s appearance in the most elegant way she can think of. After all, she reckons herself to be a very visual person. “I love to photograph, draw, sketch, paint and model my ideas from the initial inspiration to the finished product. I always start with the gemstones, the idea and the design of the jewelry first, and as it evolves, I sculpt it to the body to ensure it’s comfortable and flattering to wear,” she says.
Buoyed by the enchanting designs of Anabela’s jewelry, celebrities like Lady Gaga, Rita Ora and FKA Twigs have already been spotted wearing her pieces. “I’m fortunate that they have shown their liking for my creations. It feels great,” she says. “Now I would like to create one-of-a kind pieces for Karl Lagerfeld. It’s something that I really want to do.”
Anabela works on three engaging lines namely couture, fantasy and fine jewelry making her brand fit for every woman out there. Each has its own wow factor.
Her couture collection consists of only two collections per year, with ten unique pieces per collection. “Through my travels I collect unusual gems and treasures from local markets, nature and the unusual people I meet. With this knowledge in my hands, I get on with my job of creating unique editions of couture jewelry. Each piece is one-of-a-kind; a storytelling treasure that can be worn or displayed alike,” she says.
When it comes to her fantasy jewels collection, it’s all about offering the magic of fine jewelry using a combination of semi-precious and sustainable, ethical lab-grown gemstones which are optically equivalent to natural stones. The same meticulous process is used to handcraft every jewel; every story begins by hand-carving the designs in wax before casting in parts, then assembling, polishing and engraving in meticulous detail. Every stone is carefully selected for its brilliance and color; then cut, faceted, polished and set painstakingly by hand using traditional artisan techniques. “It allows for my complete freedom in creativity and design and it’s accessible to a much broader demographic,” she says.
Her fine jewelry collection is more or less about reinventing the diamond ring for the modern woman using the lab approach.
“I know it’s perhaps slightly rebellious, a part tongue-in-cheek approach to fine jewelry. But it’s worth it considering the value and beauty in design and the incredible craftsmanship of our human hands, in unison with the wonders of our creative minds,” she says.
She loves to work with an array of different gemstones for its variety, colors and unique qualities. From diamonds to emeralds, sapphires to citrines and garnets to tourmalines sourced around the world, the possibilities she says are endless. “I love opals; mysterious opals contain the wonders of the skies — sparkling rainbows, fireworks, and lightning, shifting and moving in their depths,” Anabela says.
The Middle East is an inexplicably important market for her to keep an eye on, where women are more inclined to splurge on extravagant pieces of jewelry as she explains, “The first time I showcased my collections in the Middle East was when I won the Vogue Talents Award with Vogue Italia in partnership with The EMAAR in Dubai, and it was an incredible experience. I do have clients from the region and I would love to be represented in the Middle East and return in the near future.”
Like all women seeking joy in their jewelry, Anabela too has her own style statement. She prefers an ever-evolving mix of both the classic and eclectic, and high-end pieces with independent designers and high-street scores. “Needless to say, I have an obsession with bold jewelry that I will easily wear with jeans and a t-shirt by day and with a cocktail dress by night,” she points out.
More importantly, Anabela’s sense of empowerment comes from designing jewelry only as she puts it, “It brings joy, inspires emotions and elevates the spirit like no other. I also love jewelry’s longevity to transcend generations. It’s timeless and it doesn’t decay or go away; it’s a chance to hold onto the past and at the same time reach out to the future, and I find that endearingly romantic.”
As the brand continues to herald a new chapter one after another, she would like to boost its popularity far and wide. “In addition to our London flagship boutique at the beautiful Ham Yard Hotel in Piccadilly, I would love to open two further stand alone gallery boutiques in Hong Kong and Paris, the 3 cities I call home,” she says.
