Oria Studio is a handmade jewellery label based in Sydney. Oria was initially a passion project, born from seeking jewellery that was different, affordable yet unique and quirky. The need for something timeless, not a trend and not conforming to anyone else’s idea of style. The Oria muse is a minimalist, eclectic, feminine yet bold, with a touch of eccentricity and with confidence in her personal style.

I walked away from full time work in 2016 to pursue a freelance graphic design career, and at the same time to flex the creative muscle I started to play with some clay. I began making jewellery for myself and fell head over heels with the process and possibilities. I named this passion project Oria, which means limits, something I try to push every day. 

Being half Australian and half Greek has given me the opportunity to travel a lot and be a part of two very different worlds simultaneously. My dad was a goldsmith in Greece and I remember watching in awe as he poured melted gold and created incredible jewellery from scratch. Jewellery design has always been the one thing I lusted over but besides a few years of beading as a teen unfortunately it wasn’t an option. My mum was a ballet dancer, so I always craved a more creative, hands-on career. Reigniting my passion for jewellery has been so freeing, and seeing my customers fall in love with an Oria piece makes me so incredibly happy. My jewellery just like my life experiences is a mix of different styles. I am for the most part a minimalist, drawn to a clean and simple aesthetic.

There are timeless black options in all Oria styles, but also a lot of natural, earthy tones, as well as colour combinations inspired by nature. The colour combinations have a simple yet striking aesthetic, taking on the form of paint mixing together, rather than clay. These multi tonal designs are especially unique as each pair is one of a kind. The clay is then combined with brass, copper, wood, leather and other natural media to add depth to the pieces. The earrings vary from hoops to small statement earrings, to larger danglers in many different shapes and combinations. There are also necklaces of various lengths with layered polymer clay pieces. All earring posts are baked into the polymer clay studs and so they will not come unstuck, although affordable I want my pieces to last.

A diverse mixture of styles, yet timeless and with a clean and simple aesthetic as the common thread. All the work takes place in my home studio in Sydney. Follow along on Instagram for the latest styles, market dates & process videos @oriastudio x