future heirlooms. I also offer customisation and bespoke services,
so pieces can become more sentimental to their owner. In terms
of our materials, we use found stones and recycled metals in our
collections, as well as melting down all our metal scraps. Then, if a
piece of Holly Ryan jewellery is no longer serving you, I invite you to
return it to me in exchange for store credit so I can breathe new life
into the raw materials.
What inspires you?
My first inspiration is always nature, followed closely by art and, of
course, my friends.
Tell us about your sculpture work. How do your passions feed
into each other?
I first carved a series of sculptures as a means of displaying my
jewellery at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia in a more
interesting way than simply flatlaying the jewellery on marble. Soon
after my presentation, the director of Jerico Contemporary gallery
in Woolloomooloo asked me to start taking it more seriously, as
she wanted to represent me and host my first solo exhibition. The
exhibition was titled ‘A Carved Revelation’ and opened in February- My second solo show, ‘Exhale’, opened in February this year.
Both of my creative passions feed into each other and inform
one another. I’ve created miniature versions of my sculptures as
pendants in solid gold, as well as created sculptures inspired by my
jewellery and the same artists or elements of nature that inform my
jewellery designs. I also believe the two mediums support each other
visually; I think they look good together and help tell the same story.
What are the challenges of running your own business?
The obvious answer here is cashflow; however, specifically to
my business, I would say it’s the expense of running a handmade
jewellery label in Australia. Staffing costs are higher, materials are
more expensive and less commonly available, rent is higher and
taxes are really bloody high on small businesses. Suffice to say, run-
ning my brand is truly a labour of love. We’ll celebrate 10 years in
business next year, and I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved
together with my team.
What have been your career highlights so far?
I want to say first that every day doing what I love is a career high-
light; I’m very grateful to everyone who’s supported me and helped
make this dream come true. I guess the moments that have taken my
breath away have been magazine covers featuring my work, present-
ing collections in Paris, my two solo exhibitions with Jerico Contem-
porary and, most of all, meeting all the incredible people I’ve had the
pleasure of working with throughout the journey so far.
“
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Circularity, recyclability, durability and repairability
need to be the focus for all designers. I truly
believe that waste is a design flaw.