Designer Yanina Faour is Argentina’s “enfant terrible” of luxury jewelry, injecting new life into the conventions of fine jewelry. She creates bold, understated handcrafted jewels that tell a story. “When it’s time for me to design, my reference points are the European couture jewelry houses, architecture, contemporary art, and my beloved Buenos Aires is always a fountain of inspiration,” says Faour. At Chispa we believe to take home a jewel from Oleana is to own a piece of Buenos Aires, a city world-renowned for its sophistication, European colonial architecture, and cutting-edge design.
Faour began her career on a very different path, working in finance in Boston. After a few years, she was struck with the desire to return to her roots in Buenos Aires and pursue her true vocation and passion in life: jewelry design. Coming from a family of jewelers that goes back to her great grandfather, a traditional metal smith who came to Argentina from Austria, she followed in his footsteps and dedicated herself to creating one-of-a-kind, handmade pieces.
She launched her own brand Oleana in 2003, combining the artisanal craftsmanship of her ancestors with a fresh, modern aesthetic. What sets Oleana apart is the choice of six distinctive jewelry lines for different moments of the day? Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Mandalas, Galaxy, Crystals, and Liturgy.
Her coveted line Oleana represents a woman and her journey. A woman dedicated to art as a way of life, honoring the traditions of her ancestors, traveling artisans who formed part of a new artistic movement. “I like to work with metals as though they were fabrics, and I envision myself designing jewels the way a fashion designer designs clothes,” she says.
For more of Yanina Faour, order your copy of the February/March issue here.
Mavian Arocha-Rowe
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