HELANA MCKENZIE
Helana Mckenzie designs beautiful, timeless, and accessible jewellery based on quality craftsmanship for women who desire aspirational and attainable pieces that evoke feelings of connection and beauty.
TELL US HOW HELANA MCKENZIE DESIGNS WAS BORNE?
While growing up in Hong Kong, South Africa, and Australia, I was deeply inspired by the modern and exotic designs all around me. In addition to my love of design, I grew up fascinated by my mother’s eclectic jewellery, always looking through her jewellery boxes while she got ready in the morning.
I felt a desire to create jewellery that was at once unique, timeless, and accessible. After years of sketching and refinement, Helana Mckenzie Designs was born in 2015.
WHAT DOES YOUR JEWELLERY REPRESENT?
A beautiful piece of jewellery has the ability to completely change your outfit. More importantly, I strive to design modern, beautiful pieces that change the way you feel.
Every piece tells a story - whether it is your own personalised piece that is passed down for generations or a piece inspired by a strong female figure in history. We hope that your piece embodies a deep meaning for you and serves as the signature for your unique story.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST COLLECTION - THE RENDITION COLLECTION?
I have grown so much personally over the last few years, and at the same time my designs have grown for my second collection – The Rendition Collection. Since my first collection, I have become a mum, and I’ve come into my own.
My passion lies in designing pieces that my customers feel a deep connection with. I had difficulty looking for a piece I can customize with my and my son’s initials, so I decided to create a collection that my customers can put their own personal signature on.
An interplay of shape and form, The Rendition Collection combines architectural elements with the ability to create your own signature pieces. Necklaces from the collection can be personalised, rings can be stacked, and earrings can be worn with or without jackets to construct a piece of your own. I wanted The Rendition Collection to be a meaningful design collaboration with my customers.
WHAT INSPIRES AND DRIVES YOU EVERYDAY?
My father was a trained architect and interior designer. I grew up looking through architecture books, and I would watch my father do angular and geometric drawings. I am very much like my dad – we are both passionate about creating things and can envision how something will look.
I am fascinated about how certain construction can change the look of things; for example, how stacking rings of interesting shapes can transform a piece.
As a mom, I’ve been inspired by how much moms and women in general embody strength and resilience. My admiration is woven through my collections, where many of the pieces are influenced by the stories of strong female figures in history.
I love when customers wear their HMD pieces proudly to remind themselves of their own powerful stories.
What advice do you have for emerging designers?
Enjoy the journey. When things seem to be moving slowly or not coming into place as quickly as you would like, trust the wait. When you embrace the uncertainty, focus on what excites you, and enjoy the beauty of becoming, you will discover that life will bring you a series of tiny miracles.
