Jewelry artist Ariana Boussard-Reifel says her latest collection is a tribute to women’s relationships, the power drawn from them, and their capacity to transform people.
The New York City–based designer named her spring line Nina to honor the Mesopotamian goddess of the waters(alternatively known as Nanshe). Given the goddess’ connection with the ocean, the names of some pieces in the 40-piece collection are words with water associations, such as eddy and monsoon.
Nina the mythic figure also represents justice, social welfare, and cooperation—all things Boussard-Reifel continues to promote in this moment when they can seem in short supply.
“In these difficult political times, I am trying to find a path to hope and perseverance, and I am astounded by all the women I know, building bridges and catalyzing movements that are making positive changes in our communities,” the designer says. “We are seeing women joining forces to work against the patriarchy in ways that only women can do. And that is inspiring me.”
Nina as a goddess also is associated with dream interpretation, and Boussard-Reifel says she relied on her dreams to design the collection.
“Each of my collections coalesces into a statement that is rooted in both aesthetics as well as an attempt to capture the cultural moment. I don’t mean this in the sense of trend, but more of a desire to understand the zeitgeist and to feel what will be meaningful and catalyzing for our community,” she explains.
“I like to blend ideas of ancient human culture with contemporary social issues. It might all seem a bit heady for jewelry, but coming from a conceptual art background, this makes the work meaningful to me.”
The collection’s softer, more organic shapes are a product of Boussard-Reifel’s current design language. Although she loves straight lines, she was excited to design jewels with curves and circles, she says.
One of Boussard-Reifel’s favorite pieces from the collection is the Sinew hoop earring, because of its size. “They are big and sexy, and wearing them will make anyone feel like a bombshell,” she says.
“Cuff bracelets are the signature of my collection, and I feel like they are the perfect jewelry piece to represent power and connection,” she adds. “I love our new Nina cuff. It is unexpected. It makes references to tailoring, but with a purely feminine and organic form. It fits everyone and immediately empowers an outfit.”
To create the photographs and marketing for the Nina collection, Boussard-Reifel brought together women she is friendly with—a group of professional colleagues as well as real-life mothers and daughters. The room was filled with feminine connection, which Boussard-Reifel says you can see reflected in their expressions of hope, love, and strength.
“These women have lived lives as adventurers, artists, healers, educators, and organizers. You can feel their strength in the images,” she says. “They are 18 to 80, and they amaze me by how they chose to live life. They are the kinds of women that I hope our brand cultivates and inspires.”
Celebrating friendship and feminine connection through jewelry has been its own accomplishment, according to the designer.
“I am so fortunate to be surrounded by strong women—my mother and my daughter, my jewelry team, and the women in my community organizations,” says Boussard-Reifel. “While adult friendships are often hard to grow, I do find that when working toward a cause, it is easy to bond and cheer each other on.”
Top: The Nina cuff, available in bronze ($775) or sterling silver ($1,795), is the centerpiece of Ariana Boussard-Reifel’s new jewelry collection. (Photos courtesy of Ariana Boussard-Reifel; photographer Jessica Dean)
- Subscribe to the JCK News Daily
- Subscribe to the JCK Special Report
- Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazine
- Follow JCK on X: @jckmagazine
- Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
