Holly ryan
Known for her organic yet minimalist creations, this jewellery designer is also an advocate for sustainability and has her heart set on creating a waste-free future
Holly Ryan describes her jewellery as nature- and art-inspired. Her label was founded in Queensland and her work is handcrafted in Australia, each piece designed to last a lifetime. How did you discover your love for jewellerymaking? I grew up in my mother’s [jewellery] studio and have been around the practice since I was young. I was ultimately drawn to making jewellery because of its lower environmental impact and the fact that metals never lose their value – they can be kept forever or melted down and recycled.
Who are the creative people that you look to? I am incredibly inspired by many artists, especially Pablo Picasso, Barbara Hepworth, Jean Arp and Henri Matisse. I find inspiration all around me in nature, as well as in art and in the personal style of my creative friends. How was your eponymous label born? I started designing and making jewellery in my final year of university, studying fine arts and majoring in fashion at Queensland University of Technology. At my graduate show, it was the jewellery that buyers were the most interested in, so the brand has grown very organically from there.
You’re passionate about sustainability and recycling — how does that present in your business model?
All of my jewellery is designed to be timeless and is built to last. We also use sustainable materials, such as recycled gold and silver, and we save any scraps in the studio to be melted down and reused. We also offer a Recycling Initiative, where we invite our customers to return their pieces in exchange for store credit, or to be redesigned into something new. Jewellery is designed to be worn, and because the raw materials in jewellery can be melted down and repurposed, it made sense for me to offer an opportunity for people to breathe new life into pieces that they no longer wear. Environmental sustainability has always been a core focus for the brand and, as the technology and resources improve in this area, I’m constantly trying to integrate that learning into the brand.
You’re also an accomplished sculptural artist.
How did you discover your love for this medium, and how does it differ from making jewellery?
I discovered sculpture by accident, when a friend suggested I give it a go – to build sculptures I could use to display my jewellery with – but has since evolved into another artistic practice for me. Sculpture is actually quite similar to making jewellery, just on a larger scale. So, they definitely inform one another. What’s next for Holly Ryan jewellery? We have just opened our very first Holly Ryan headquarters in Sydney’s Surry Hills and there are some very exciting things planned for the space in coming months.
I’m also working on a collaboration with another sustainable Australian label, KITX by Kit Willow. When you create jewellery designs, are you creating for your customer or do you create for yourself?
It’s a mix of both. I definitely create pieces I feel a personal affinity with, but I’m often producing pieces for friends and clients that go on to inspire my work down the track. I try not to produce new pieces just for the sake of it, but to release seasonless designs.
“Jewellery is designed to be worn, and because the raw materials in jewellery can be melted down and repurposed, it made sense for me to offer an opportunity for people to breathe new life into pieces they no longer wear”
(clockwise from top left) Jewellery at Holly Ryan HQ. Gold-plated She Shell pendant with sapphire, $520. An image from Holly’s latest campaign, featuring the gold fob Belcher chain necklace, $420; Classic Pearl Strand bracelet, from $150; and Pearl Spiral ring, $250. Men’s gold Signet ring, from $1000, and Wide Band Stacker with sapphire, from $660. The Hidden Treasure Map necklace, $620, being assembled. Mini gold Square Tube Hoop earrings, $200.
(from top left) Gold Meteor mini pearl drop earrings, from $200; and gold Wabi Sabi ring with diamonds, from $1510.
Holly in her studio.