Diawéne, Oslo-Meets-West Africa Jewelry Brand
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For Dad and Aissatou Ceesay, the sisters behind the Oslo-based jewelry line Diawene, every aspect of their brand is a family affair. From its name, derived from the West African surname Diaw, to its commitment to working with local artisans in Senegal, where the family of co-founders originated, the accessories brand pays homage to West culture. African and the region’s deep respect for jewelry. . The brand’s unisex collection of clever hoops, dainty chain necklaces, and gold and silver signet rings perfectly combines the crisp Scandinavian aesthetic with features – such as a slightly rough finish – that are representative of the style. traditional West African. The sibling duo said their experience growing up between two worlds allows them to create jewelry that is both modern and timeless, simple yet sophisticated and elegant.
While Oslo Music Festival, where Diawéne presented a limited edition collection on opening day, we spoke to the founders about how they worked together to create one of Norway’s most exciting jewelry brands.
Diawéne’s creations are very inspired by your West African heritage. What traditions do you want to honor through your brand? How are they reflected in your jewelry and production practices?
One of our main goals is to honor the way our culture respects and values ââart, especially jewelry. In our culture, jewelry – especially gold – is of great value and is often something given to you as a gift on a special occasion – when you are getting married, for example. Jewelry is made to last and is often personalized.
In Senegalese culture, we have a lot of respect, honor, pride and gratitude. These are some of the traditions that we try to keep with us when we work and interact with people.
You also draw on your own experiences of living in Oslo to create jewelry. How do you define the Scandinavian expression and how do you translate it into your collections?
Scandinavian design in our opinion is detailed simplicity. Since we [grew up] between two worlds – with Senegalese and Gambian parents, but born and raised in Norway – it seems very natural and easy to translate that into the brand. The brand is largely a reflection of us, and that’s sometimes hard to explain because the real answer is that it’s âjust usâ.
However, if you are looking for something specific in our jewelry, we mostly do simple designs but add the finish and detail of the Senegalese look – which is often a rougher look with tiny details on the surface of the jewelry. .
How does it feel to run a jewelry business together as sisters?
This is very fun! We get to know each other in a whole new way, and you learn a lot from each other. We live together in our childhood home in EllingsrudÃ¥sen, Oslo, so there’s never really a time when we hardly talk about our brand. [Laughs] We have always been very close as sisters, so it was sometimes a bit difficult to separate being sisters and working together. We have managed to find a nice balance now, but it has taken a long time. Now we love to discover new sides of each other and get even closer, if that is even possible.
Earlier this year, you were approached by the stylist of Lil Nas X Hodo Moussa to create a personalized ring for the artist Weekly entertainment digital cover. What was your reaction when you saw the editorial? And what can you tell us about the design?
We were great, super happy and excited. Lil Nas X is an icon and a true role model for many, including us. We are so honored. On top of that, Hodo is not only a beautiful person but also an amazing and fearless stylist with great vision.
While making the jewelry, we communicated with Hodo while we were producing in Senegal. We did a few pieces with Lil Nas X in mind and went for something traditional but fun. The shell of coffee beans is often used to decorate jewelry and has a fascinating history in West Africa. For us, it’s very Senegalese. He added a nice touch to the ring.
Who else do you dream of seeing Diawéne pieces on?
Lil Nas X was definitely on our list. We always dream of seeing our pieces on style icons like Rihanna, Bella Hadid, A $ AP Rocky, Amina Muaddi and Pernille Teisbaek. They are big names, but we love to see our jewelry on anyone. Seeing a child from New York, Paris, Copenhagen, Oslo or LA in our creations is an honor in itself.
You presented a limited edition collection at the Jewelry Edition during the Oslo Fushion Festival. How did you feel about participating in the event alongside other exciting local jewelry designers?
It’s very special to be able to do collaborations like this. The artist and designer Ali gallefoss did a fantastic job with the show, and all the brands have wonderful pieces. We feel very honored, humble and grateful.
Besides jewelry, you also recently launched a Handbag and one Clutch. Do you think the brand will branch out into other categories of accessories in the future?
We were inspired to play with different types of accessories thanks to our creative mom. She introduced us to jewelry from a young age, because it is a tradition to offer your children and your immediate family jewelry in gold or silver. We remember wearing little hoops with necklaces and then styling them with matching colorful dresses and bags. Hopefully Diawéne can branch out into a lifestyle brand that would continue to produce in Senegal or maybe other places in Africa. The Senegalese have a lot of talented creatives in different fields, like leather, jewelry, sculpture, etc. Since we were young we have been obsessed with accessories of all kinds. Sometimes we would go with our mom, or our mom would sew matching outfits for the whole family. She still does today.
What’s the next step for Diawéne?
We hope to continue to develop our brand internationally. We wish to emphasize social sustainability through our work in Senegal. We hope to continue to do so and hopefully have the opportunity to do the same in other African countries. We are currently working on how to help support the education system in Senegal and help women in the local community who wish to pursue a career to support their families.
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