Feathered friends and water creatures—what better icons to adorn ourselves with as summer beckons?
Poised for fun in the sun, we shed our winter layers, feeling refreshed by the change of seasons—a transition long awaited and celebrated. Blame it on the weather if you must, but there’s something about this time of year that goes along with a lighthearted take on fashion, and jewelry is no exception.
Inspired by her upbringing in El Salvador, Onirikka founder and creator Gloria Batlle has just the thing. Her offerings are permeated with elements of nature, none so wildly as the collections labeled Leap and Finch.
“I find the majority of my customers are seeking fun, happy, distinctly unique, and most importantly heartfelt jewelry. In the last three years, the return customer has several pieces from the Leap collection, and they continue to collect personal pieces for themselves or gift a piece to someone they cherish,” says Batlle.
Consumers have been wild about animal-themed jewelry, welcoming its whimsy and cheer. Onirikka’s pieces fit the description: Its Finch line is named for the bird, boldly colored and adventurous in flight, while Leap, with its frisky frog in an array of color options, also speaks to adventure. “Inspired by frogs and their ability to leap with intense power and little reserve, the artist of the Leap collection hopes that the pieces will serve as a reminder to take the leap to those who wear them,” according to the brand’s website.
“Frogs—well, I don’t like frogs, I was afraid of them,” confesses Batlle. “When I did my first pair of earrings from the Leap collection, it was a black-and-white pair of frog studs representing balance. In retrospect, I was trying to embrace my fear and turn something I didn’t like—frogs—into something I love, jewelry. I soon began making more of the frogs in colorful enamel and began to fall in love more and more with the collection and what it represented, and that’s how the Leap collection came to life. I am always inspired by nature. I love and admire nature, and all animals have their beauty.”
Top: Leap single ring in 18k yellow gold with enamel and diamonds, $1,300; Onirikka
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