New York City. Nov. 14, 2018. Hana was a natural choice for the name of the latest jewelry collection from Seattle-based designer Erika Winters, given her DNA, professional history, and the words meaning. Hana means one in Koreana nod to her motherand reminds Winters of the back to one commands she received from directors in her past life as an actress. Its also a direction she ruminates over repeatedly, like a mantra (think back to an original place or essence). The silhouette in Hana, a blend of an octagon and a trapezoid that the jeweler calls a trapagon, is simple, striking, and the focus of all Hana styles.
Hana is geometric and octagonal, with connecting double trapezoids on the north and south ends, Winters explains. Its the way these trapezoid shapes connect and the deep slope of the corners that make the Hana design.
To advertise, contact Nicole@thejewelrybook.com.
The shape transports Winters to a mental place filled with ancient Eastern and Middle Eastern concepts, shapes, and architecture as well as ziggurat structures and Korean jewelry.
When I developed the shape, I built this little temple in my mind that takes me to this spiritual, peaceful place. To me, my mother is in this shape.
Thats because Winters mother was the impetus for Hana. In 2015, her moma tough woman who pushed her daughter to strive for excellencetold the designer that she wanted a ring featuring her daughters birthstone, emerald. So Winters went to work sourcing one, a stunning vivid-green number, of good size and lightly oiled. I dont get to buy an emerald like that often, she says of the treasured gem.
But at the time she purchased the stone, her mother was diagnosed with cancer and given just six months to live. Hospice quickly entered the picture, but Winters momever loving but a demanding figure who bluntly delivered requestsinsisted her daughter speed up her pieces production. She said, You better hurry up and make something, Winters recollects. Dutifully, the daughter did so, creating her moms ring and planning for future Hana styles to feature only cushion and emerald cuts with the surrounding metal bezels playing out the Hana shape. Its all bezel settingsmore pared-down ones, she says.
When Winters mom died in 2015, the designer shelved the line. A year later, she debuted five Hana stylesincluding her mothers emerald ring, which isnt for saleat the 2017 Couture Jewelry show. Since Winters is known for diamond styles, the ring garnered much attention as well as a few orders from stores. Complete stylescenter stones and mountingsare made in 18k gold or platinum and start around $4,500 retail for gold. And though Winters is known as a wedding-ring designer, Hana translates effortlessly into fashion looks with colored-stone centers.
To advertise, contact Nicole@thejewelrybook.com.
The nearly five-year-old jewelry brand is also diversifying into other styles, such as necklaces. One piece with a Hana motif on a split chain sits in the hollow of the wearers neck, offering a timeless and ancient yet futuristic vibe, says Winters, while a nearly 6-carat smoky, lavenderish-color spinel style will offer a blingier look.
Hana is elemental and simpleback to one, she says. I dont like fussy.
