When the powerful bond of two best friends joined forces, the result was a heartfelt collaboration of love and passion to form their own jewellery label, BANJARA.
From humble origins, the dynamic duo now run a highly successful and international brand, that’s all handcrafted right here from their Melbourne studio.
Danielle Hill and Elise Shabat personally assemble each of the original samples, hand stitching every piece. But it’s the story behind the BANJARA name that evokes the mysticism and cultured philosophy of the jewellery label.
Stemming from the name of an actual tribe of nomads in India, known as the `forest wanderers’, the Banjara Tribe people gather objects and create jewellery from it which reflects their culture and heritage.
“Dani actually first dabbled in jewellery design while travelling in India, in fact she spent most of the time away in a northern town called Baksur where she took lessons with local jewellery craftsmen,” says Elise. “The decision to call the label BANJARA Jewellery reflects the spirit of the Banjara Tribe, and, represents the true beginnings of the brand.”
BANJARA will launch their Spring Summer ‘The Lost Coin Collection’ at this month’s Fashion Exposed from August 28-30 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Elise tells FE Blog that The Lost Coin Collection is about `the precious nature of objects of affection, once lost, only to be rediscovered’.
The sterling silver pieces incorporate an antique and old-world style charm which has a coin-esque and timeless feel.
FE Blog asked the girls to share their inspiration behind the latest collection, why jewellery is their passion and the creative process behind the BANJARA brand.
Do you hand make the jewellery here in Melbourne too?
Our creative process involves many hands. Some hands, such as Dani’s, create original samples from our studio, assemble and hand stitch every piece. We also have hands overseas involved in producing components for us. We love that we get to travel and visit these beautiful people who make the brand what it is. The cooperative process, and involvement of local and foreign people simply reflects the value of ‘the journey’ that is at the heart of BANJARA Jewellery.
Why is jewellery your passion?
What woman doesn’t love jewellery? We all have treasured pieces that represent different times in our lives, jewellery is sentiment, nostalgia, love, and loss. Jewellery gives people the ability to express themselves or their love for someone else.
What is it about jewellery that you had to make a career out of it?
What has always fascinated us is the precious nature of a piece, not its dollar value but rather its sentiment. Dani is an extremely tactile person and comes from a painting background, she is interested in the exploration of different materials and jewellery scratches her creative itch.
Explain your creative process from sketch to design and manufacture?
Dani’s creative process is quite raw. Although initial ideas are sketched out these drawing are usually very basic and quite un-suggestive. She can visualise the piece entirely in her head & uses sketches to concrete the dimension. Jewellery making is all about problem solving and process so she always has a concrete plan of execution, before making the original sample. Dani always works with a pin board in front of her workbench where each complete piece is hung, it allows her to produce a fluid range. Once our complete range is designed we begin working with our friends in Bali to manufacture our designs.
Where do you source your inspiration?
The obvious inspiration for Banjara Jewellery is the Banjara Tribe who create colourful pieces from found materials. They use whatever is available to them at the time to create amazing jewellery. Our jewellery is a contemporary interpretation of these works, however Dani is also always inspired by nature, different art and crafts materials. The only inspiration that is avoided is that of other jewellery designers as we pride ourselves on our unique design.
Did you study jewellery design? If so, where? If not, how did you learn?
Jewellery making has been an amazing adventure. Dani had her first jewellery lesson in a small village in northern India, this is when she fell in love. Her once-off class turned into an extensive but casual course. Upon returning to Melbourne Dani began lessons with a Melbourne jewellery designer, which was a whole new experience. She then signed up for the Advanced Diploma of Engineering (jewellery design) at Box Hill which she completed last year.
What is the story behind `The Lost Coin Collection’?
“We are gypsies, we are nomads, we have journeyed and we have gathered. We exist in the modern world but retain a deep connection with our roots. Throughout time people, tribes and societies have been creating jewellery, expressing their heritage and culture through art worn in plain sight. This perfectly represents our spirit.
We have travelled this beautiful planet. We have been inspired by the wonders of the natural world and have observed the many cultures that inhabit it. As we journeyed through the far-east we were fortunate to encounter a people known as the Banjara Tribe who create special jewellery made from a mixture of materials, old and new, all of which had been found and collected. They made their jewellery – in the form of rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets, using a combination of colourful threads, textiles, shells and old coins amongst other materials available to them. We love and embrace the idea of making a non-precious material, precious. Combining these materials with sterling silver adds a warmth and charm to our jewellery design.
Banjara Jewellery is about exploration, discovery and the never-ending journey.”
To view the full BANJARA collection, register to visit Fashion Exposed at, www.fashionexposed.com