The Powerful Woman

Women’s jewellery  is often quite unnecessarily thought of as having to be dainty and refined. The more lustrous and miniature they are, the better. Fine jewellers offer a wide array of the finest silver and gold, knowing classic styles are a safe bet.

Then there’s that glittering staple, encapsulated so perfectly in our memories by the old adage, “diamonds are a girls best friend.”  Many jewellery designers seem content to rely on these wearied and exorbitant customs, churning out indistinguishable accessories, suspended in industry stasis. This view of jewellery is far too narrow and at least one designer, Erin Ignacio creator of the jewellery line John James, is not content to rely on such typical, bland styles.

Ignacio unleashed her new collection at 100 Wines by David Walker on Feb. 27, filling the room with her new line and some accompanying art work to highlight the theme.  People milled in awe at the nature inspired pieces, and enjoyed the work of, not one, but two burgeoning designers.

Accompanying Erin with a few pieces, was her sister Christina. Unleashing her own line of hand crafted jewellery, Integral, on the buzzing crowd. The growing presence of a free, and wild spirit could not be missed as Erin herself, was kind enough to give Calgary Fashion a few words.

“Prior to creating this collection I was in a really unstable place and when speaking about the women where I live, their energy empowered me,” says Ignacio, “It felt almost as though…I felt like a warrior.” Warrior, the new line launched by John James, explores a whole new dimension of jewellery. Trying her best to capture the wild, and raw energy that originally set off a spark within her.

Ignacio moves past the so called ‘classics’, utilizing various types of earthen materials in the design of each of the collection’s hand crafted pieces. The line boasts a number of bold chains and earrings in metallic and natural tones, accented with wood, suede, jade, brass and pearlized acrylic. Ignacio takes her cues from the empowered women around her. Making the pieces brazen, beautiful and strong; accentuating armor, designed to adorn the female warriors around us in everyday life.

“My pieces are for a bold strong woman…like the women in the buildings I’ve lived in.” states Ignacio “There is a sense in this group of women, that is so strong and outspoken and unafraid. They are confident to be themselves.”

Each of the pieces is named for an empowered heroine, goddess or queen. The collections bold architectural necklaces, and dazzling drop earrings relate a collaboration of avante garde design and creatively selected raw materials.   Names like Nefertiti, Hippolyta, and Lakshmi project the nature of the collection, alluding to the concept of female empowerment through name and the use of boldly textured materials, and shapes.

With eye catching statement pieces from the Warrior collection accenting your spring and summer wardrobe, you will have every reason to feel like a strong, confident woman.

One cannot help but be inspired by this line and its intent to empower. Simultaneously, John James can inspire the daring in us, as it allows us to  step outside the boundaries of traditionally ‘feminine’ jewellery, and brings the past to life.

Daniela Codreanu

Illustration courtesy of John James

Photography by Izzy Jackson