JANE GOWANS

18K Rose Gold Hitch Pendant Necklace

Dumfries, Scotland is a historic city replete with medieval castles (Castle Douglas), and beautiful scenery like the Threave Gardens, and Galloway Forest Park.  Scotland is also home to featured jewelry designer Jane Gowans.

Scottish jewelry designers cover a lot of style territory.  There are low-key, quirky styles (Zoe Bassi); classic styles (Shona Macaulay Fidgett); and experimental (Sarah Keay).

Gowans’ five-year-old brand leans more towards edgy, chic and classic.

Her creations of 18-karat rose and yellow gold vermeil, sterling and blackened silver range from the elemental, architectural forms of the Flora and Fauna collection to the slightly coiled, rope-like textures of the Captain collection.

The simple, oxidized shapes from Flora and Fauna seem like floating decal patterns; a decidedly playful turn to the otherwise sexy style personality of blackened metal.  The granule and spike surface details form the Captain series provides a nice interplay of understatement and daring.

The Dundee-based jeweler learned her craft at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.  Though her designs are initially crafted in Britain, she hand-finishes each of them at her home studio; working nearly 12 hours each day.

Since launching her brand, Gowans has been nominated for numerous awards winning the Dundee Craft Makers Award in 2012; and the Royal Bank of Scotland Independent Woman of the Year Award in 2014.

Oxidized Sterling Silver Fern Ring

Though famous faces like Emma Thompson and singer Emeli Sande are fans of Gowans’ pendant necklaces, cocktail rings, and stud earrings the jeweler cites involvement from established retailers to help new talent gain prominence.

 

She says that “larger UK department stores” need to take “greater risks in the designers they stock as they often act as key taste-makers.  It would be great to see them pushing younger talent into the mainstream spotlight.”

The jeweler has watched her efforts in collaborating with British department store Harvey Nichols and Scottish illustrator Johanna Basford spearhead into moving her brand forward.  She also relishes the opportunity to help students of her alma mater take broader strides in their goals.

“I have been fortunate to work with other designers and those experiences have brought something new to the table increasing interest in my brand.  It is rewarding to know my career mistakes and experiences can help benefit their careers.”

18K Gold Plated Oxbow Earrings

2015 Jewelry Trend Alert:  With plenty of pared down pendants, Gowans’ designs are fab for layering; and let’s not forget yellow gold is also a mainstay in 2015’s style trends.