About the Designer

Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I would love to give you a little background on who I am...

I am a jewelry designer, model, surfer, vegan and traveler. My jewelry allows me to channel my passions into a unique piece of wearable art, using only the highest quality materials. The metals that I use are tarnish-resistant & long-lasting, while also sustainable and eco-friendly. My jewelry is described as effortlessly on trend, dainty, minimalist, bohemian, and timeless. My designs are constantly inspired by my travels and the raw beauty of the natural world. My jewelry is a prism through which I see the world, representing my passions for life, balance and happiness.

Christiana as a child

My passion for jewelry design came to light at a very young age. Around the age of 6, my mother, a jeweler, began to bring me along with her to meet suppliers in New York. As a treat for coming along, she would let me pick out my own strand of stones or pearls. She would teach me all about the stones and pearls I picked out. As my own collection of precious gems and treasures grew, I decided to create my own designs. By the age of 11, I sold my first necklace under the name of my mother, afraid clients would be discouraged, knowing it was the creation of a 6th grader. When I was 15, I had sold around 30 pieces and by 16, I started my own business.

While jewelry played a crucial role in my personal and creative development, it functioned as a form of therapy for me. It was a creative outlet, a way to get lost during times of chaos and stress. To preserve its therapeutic function, when it came time for college, I opted for the Honors Neuroscience Department at University of San Diego instead of Rhode Island School of Design. I graduated from the University of San Diego in 2018 with a degree in Neuroscience in the Honors College.

When I am not designing jewelry, I also do some modeling, represented by agencies in both L.A. and Boston. Furthermore, I am a passionate vegan, surfer, sailor, and skier.

The primary sources of inspiration for my jewelry comes primarily from nature, the ocean, and particularly from my travels. In 2017, I spent about 5 months traveling around the world. During this time, I traveled to 12 different countries including the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Senegal, Brazil, Trinidad & Tobago, Peru, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. During these times, I met extraordinary people, was immersed in incredible cultures, and engaged in experiences that entirely changed my views of the world. I saw some of the most beautiful sunsets in Santorini, strolled along the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, camel trekked in the Sahara Desert, went on a safari in Senegal, slept out in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, snorkeled and learned about environmental preservation in the Galapagos Islands , and, finally, surfed in Costa Rica. I made memories that will last a lifetime.

My travels helped me to realize that there is a big world out there, filled with incredible beauty but also incredible obstacles. My view of the world would forever be changed by this realization. I intended to move forward in my life, not by following the path that makes sense within my culture, but by striving to break the barriers that separates us from some of the harsh realities lived by so many.

Upon my return, I struggled with the conflict I felt between my creative passion for designing jewelry, and a stereotypical sensation that I needed to do something more meaningful with my life. I had early “consciousness raising” when our family worked at a Providence soup kitchen and later received a community service award for a clothing distribution program that sent thousands of items to the needy in Haiti.

So, I decided that my jewelry did not have to match the stereotype of "superficiality" to which it is commonly applied. Instead, I decided to make my business entirely socially- and environmentally- conscious by incorporating sustainable and fair-trade materials and packaging. I also donate 5% of my profits to the Rainforest Trust, which is a non-profit organization devoted to buying lands in our most threatened rainforests in order that they may not be destroyed or built upon.

If you have any other questions regarding my work and my jewelry, please feel free to reach out via Contact page!