Seeking the personally meaningful with Annika Inez
Annika Inez, founder of the jewellery brand named after herself spoke with us about growing up in Malmö, moving to New York and how she finds balance in opposites in her everyday practice.
Photography courtesy of Annika Inez, Interview: Francisca Ceballos
Please tell us more about the idea of “Creating a personal, modular collection of objects that can help center us and resolve feelings of disorientation; reject excess and seek the personally meaningful.”
Ah that sounded so great when we wrote it, feels a little convoluted now, I guess a fancy way of saying less is more when it comes to personal possessions. I am struggling sometimes with creating products when there is so much. On a personal level, each year that passes I have less and less of everything. My closet has lots of space! I have four or five pieces that are my everyday uniform and I love not thinking too much about getting dressed. The jewelry changes. For occasions, weekends I have fun with extra special pieces, lots of vintage. I’m always seeking to have everything build on each other. Less things, many options.
Contributing by buying an object that already represents love. Can you speak to us about this heart collection project and the partnership with One Love Community Fridge?
Gladly! I had wanted to find a local organization for a while, wanting to really dial into the local level. You know, start in your own community, how can I make it better here. I knew Asmeret, the founder of One Love through multiple friends in common, what she has built is amazing. One Love coordinates with local food businesses who donate fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables and pre-packed nutritional foods— along with seasonal essential products and One Love volunteers distribute to community fridges around Brooklyn. I don’t have the numbers but it is an impressive amount of food delivered each month. Each time I place an item into a fridge and know a person in my community will be better off it’s a great feeling.
The Heart collection felt like a natural place to spread word about One Love and donate a percentage of sales.
Where did you grow up in Scandinavia? Can you describe this place? How does it smell, what colors does it have, how is the light.
Ah, favorite subject. I grew up in Malmö, in the south right across from Copenhagen. Malmö is a small city, 300K, full of parks, beaches, old castles, and also quite industrial when I was growing up. One of my favorite places as a teen was sneaking into a shipyard and hangout under the one hundred and fourty high crane facing the ocean. Definitely a sensory memory: all the metal and ocean scents, all colors muted and enormous scales, plus the slight fear of getting caught. Southern Sweden is known for its special light and the countryside has inspired many poets and painters. I’ve spent a lot of time on the south coast. Where the land meets the water there are several areas with conifer pine forests. One is called Sandskogen which literally means sandforest. The scent there is magic.
Why did you move to New York? Why such a radical decision?
I blame it on my mom and love it. My mom lived in New York City in the sixties, hanging with a jazz crowd and working in fashion. On a summer visit back to Sweden she met my dad, they fell in love and he did not want to move to New York so she ended up leaving the city, but always told stories upon stories about her years here. I knew from early teens I wanted to move from Sweden, my plan was Paris, but long story short I ended up in New York when my love at the time decided to move back here. It wasn’t so hard to convince me to join. Maybe it was even my idea. Can’t remember.
What does New York give to you and to the brand?
The people. New York has so many things, but it really comes down to the people for me. Endlessly inspiring, and I don’t mean only in a style way, but the energy. Crazy, different, unapologetic, helpful (yes!). New York City energy is unique. It also drains you for sure and I’m spending more time in Europe now.
What does Scandinavia give to you and to the brand?
Space and quiet. Scandinavia is so much in my core. I really feel from the land there. The desire to always strip away at designs until you have an essence that works on its own. A pride in the heritage of design, simplicity and functionality.
It's hard to imagine Craftsmen in a city like New York. Please tell us more about them.
Ah, we don’t make everything here anymore unfortunately. It has become too costly for us. We did for many years and I’ve known many of the craftsmen and women well, seen their kids grow up. It is a variety, some work from an extra room at home and some have small studios with a few people. We now also produce in India, a factory vetted through The Responsible Jewellery Council.
How is your creating process? Can you describe it for us? Where do you get inspiration from, how do you develop your collections?
Sometimes it starts with a kind of fluid feeling, like I keep noticing a certain shape everywhere. From there I sometimes sketch but often start working in wax right away. It is easier to translate it into wax than a drawing. Other times it can be quite specific, I came across these “how to tie a bowtie” images that were the foundation for the Cravat series. I have always had a love for vintage men’s accessories and the idea of making a men’s bowtie into women’s jewelry was exciting. Same feeling as with the hearts, sort of reclaiming a shape that has been overly “cutified”. The cusp of masculinity and femininity.
How do you choose your materials? What relationship do you have with them?
Silver is my first love. The coolness, the ability to work fairly large and sculpturally. I am also very fond of ten karat gold, it has less gold than the higher karats and I love the lighter, more subtle gold. It is very attractive. Also glass, because it is a there not there material, amorphous solid, it is bold yet not.
Tell us about how you appreciate everyday moments and beauty. How do you translate it into objects?
The tree that grows outside my apartment. I can touch the branches from my third floor bedroom window, it makes me happy, I know every detail of this tree. Sitting on the stoop, even if it's cold, even if only for a few minutes and watch life around the neighborhood. My daughter laughs each time she stops to pick up some stone, branch or leaf wherever we go.
Some designs where it translates, the serpent collar which holds a hidden piece of wood; you can add a few drops of essential oil that will emit scent throughout the day. A pendant with a mirror on the back but also the way sculptural silver feels, touching it makes me pause and be in the moment.
Five words that describe Annika Inez Jewelry.
Sculptural
Subtle
Fluid
Juxtaposition
Simple