Inspiring Women and Creation as a Meditative Practice
Sonia Boyajian is the LA based jewelry designer making women feel a part of something special.
On La Brea Avenue between Oakwood and Beverly Boulevard there’s a store like no other. A place that merges shopping with craftsmanship. A full on pink experience that redefines what it means to shop for jewelry.
I first heard about Sonia Boyajian when- on a Monday- running away from all responsibilities I found myself browsing the web looking at best dressed images. I saw Scarlet Johnson at the movie premiere of Avengers wearing a bracelet that mimicked an item that appears on the movie and so my curiosity was picked. I needed to find out who was the creative mind behind such an ingenious design.
Her name came up again when I was researching into brands and designers donating or contributing towards people affected by COVID-19. Sonia has been donating 15% of her earnings towards My Friend’s Place, a charity that helps young people build self-sufficient lives. For years she has volunteered teaching jewellery classes and she created a ceramic’s program to motivate youth express themselves. “Although I am not currently teaching there, I am still involved and help in anyway I can.”
Photo Courtesy: Sonia Boyajian.
For all of those unfamiliar with her work, Sonia Boyajian is a jewellery and accessories designer that has been creating bold, whimsical and fun pieces over the past 15 years. “More than a brand it’s a personal extension of me”. She says. She was trained in Antwerp so there is a clear influence of the artistic process followed by sculptures and painters rather than a more traditional trend driven way of creating jewelry. Art is everything to Sonia so she applies it into every aspect of her life. From her creations to her self-portraits modelling her pieces.
The main inspiration behind her collections are women. She translates stories into details creating unique and beautiful pieces that are meant to empower and create a dialogue. “The jewelry itself when worn brings positive exchange between the wearer and the observer. They are conversation pieces and they are truly meant to compliment the true spirit of the wearer.”
When listening to her talk about women I remembered a story I read about her a while back: When she was a little girl she used to visit the Pasadena flea market with her grandma where they’d shop for random bits and pieces. Later on, they’d fix them or put together to create unique items that no one else was wearing. “My biggest influences I would say would be first my grandmother and mother, and then the women that shaped and mentored me in my business.” She told me later.
The presence of strong women in her life is definitely a pattern that translate into beautiful intrinsic work, however Sonia feels the most creative when she’s working alone in her studio. The self isolation period proved to be a massive source of inspiration for her. “ If I have the moment to sit in my studio and tune out the reality of life, I flourish in creating and creation becomes a meditative practice.” She says. “Currently I am working on many new things to more home wear, garden decor and bead making. It sounds crazy, but I think as a designer it is my job to create objects that serve a purpose and need in our daily lives. I have yet to see where it will take me, but perhaps when we over come corona, I will be ready to show what I have been working on.”
Photo Courtesy: Sonia Boyajian.
For fifteen years Sonia operated her brand out of a small studio in Hollywood, it was not until late last year that she opened her by-appointment only store. It would not only operate as a shop but as a studio, a place to hold events and show customers how her pieces are created. The space was created by her friend Pamela Shamshiri and has been appointed by the media and customers that were able to visit before the pandemic hit as a “ pink palace”.
For as long as she has been creating she has collaborated with several celebrities, fashion houses and publications for editorial pieces. However, Studio Shamshiri was her first ever collaboration with an interior designer. “It was a wonderful way to be able to understand how to build and create on a larger scale.” She told me. - When I asked if she was looking forward to any more collaborations with other designers in the future she told me it was hard to say as the future of the fashion industry feels uncertain although she’d definitely collaborate with Pamela again.
Photo Courtesy: Studio Shamshiri.
Her band has always had a conscious attitude towards the environmental impact fashion brings into the world. Everything is done in-house by her and her team of only 3, all materials are recycled and they even went the long mile and pulled out of fashion week a few seasons ago to reduce the impact flying back and forth has on the planet. “We have taken many steps to ensure that we are as eco as possible.” When I asked how she felt about all this new regulations around fast fashion and how luxury houses were starting to shift into a more environmental and inclusive model she said : “While I am glad that finally fashion is doing something about the horrible waste that it is causing in this world, I think the new proposals currently out there are not enough.”
My nomadic lifestyle has been put on hold but I can assure you one thing, once I can freely travel again I am coming to visit Sonia’s store, immerse myself on her pink palace and experience Los Angeles through her eyes. Visit the the down town flower market, see and exhibition at LACMA, shop and Mameg, eat at Porridge and puffs and spend a day at the Korean spa.