The Animal Collection
The Animal Collection began with the messages I wanted to pass on to my two daughters, Mimi and Orla. I loved the idea that a piece of jewellery could carry a deeper meaning; something personal that might inspire confidence, courage and self-belief in the wearer.
When my eldest daughter was young, she was fascinated by unicorns. Her fascination led me to a line from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass, in which the Unicorn says to Alice, “If you’ll believe in me, I’ll believe in you.”
It was this simple exchange that inspired the Unicorn Necklace and its message, Believe in You. I wanted to create something that would remind my daughters, as they grew older, to hold on to the imagination and belief that comes so naturally in childhood, and to carry that same belief into themselves.
From there, I began exploring the symbolism of animals across different cultures, folklore and mythology. Each animal was chosen for its meaning, with designs inspired by traditional folk art and simple line drawings.
The result is a collection of quietly symbolic pieces, defined by clean lines, strong silhouettes and a contemporary simplicity.
I eventually came up with five animals – the Rabbit, the Orca Whale, the Hummingbird, the Dala Horse and the Unicorn. After reading about their essences, spirits and meaning in many different cultures the following sayings became attached to them.
The Dala Horse : Be Strong
The Rabbit: Lucky Bunny
The Orca Whale : Always By Your Side
The Unicorn: Believe in You
The Hummingbird: Beat Your Wings And Fly.
These five animals now form the Animal Collection.
Rachel
