Image Courtesy of Veneda Carter.
Starting her journey in modeling, and then taking a route as a celebrity stylist, Veneda Carter now taps into the world of jewellery with her eponymous label. The Copenhagen-born and now LA-based jewellery designer draws inspiration from rap and hip hop, having grown up with her eyes tied to the screen of music videos including everything from the 90s to the 2000s. As a pioneer of her time, Carter was one of the first ones by Kim Kardashian’s side to incorporate music influences into her styling, seemingly everything she touches holds traces of rappers from back then tying it all together with fashion. Now, after having moved through the fashion sphere for some time, Veneda Carter transforms her visual approach to the hip-hop scene into designing jewellery pieces that are bold but at the same time carry intricate details. Thick, chunky rings and pendants are undeniably anchored in what rappers are wearing while the accessories’ texture is reminiscent of spiky cliffs, accentuating Carter’s own take on creating pieces that will make you stand out.
Entering the branch of jewellery design, Veneda Carter now collaborated with GANNI, creating an exchange of the Scandinavian style and the hip-hop influence. With both brands having their roots in Copenhagen, each of them has created a unique visual world that they are inviting the other one to step into. Using the butterfly GANNI logo as a playground to unite both of their visions into a unisex collection, the collaboration is both loud and subtle; glamorous and bold.
SLEEK talks to Veneda Carter and GANNI’s Creative Director Ditte Reffstrup about their home Copenhagen, the process of collaborating and the meaning of jewellery.
Image Courtesy of GANNI and Veneda Carter.
SLEEK: What was the process of incorporating both GANNI’s and Veneda Carter’s design languages into one collaboration?
Ditte Reffstrup: This collaboration feels really special to me because I’m so excited to explore jewellery as a newfound category and I love that we are doing it with Veneda. She is a true multi-hyphenate and a major muse of mine. I love Veneda’s take on our new butterfly logo, which to me symbolises transformation, freedom and positivity; all the characteristics she already naturally embodies. She is a total GANNI Girl!
S: Since you both call Copenhagen your home, how does this city influence your style?
DR: Copenhagen girls are not too polished but have this effortlessness and sense of natural beauty to them. Also, we bike everywhere so we dress quite practical. I love how Veneda mixes Copenhagen’s timeless and genderless approach with LA Glam and hip-hop. She just makes it look so effortless. For me, fashion is all about mixing and having fun with contrasts.
S: What is your connection to GANNI as both of you have your roots in Copenhagen?
Veneda Carter: I’ve always been really into GANNI and what they’ve done from day one. Being from Copenhagen, I’ve followed the Danish fashion community closely and was lucky enough to close the brand’s SS23 show last August. Now here we are, expanding the collaboration even deeper into our first co-designed product capsule. It truly feels like a dream.
S: Which values or design language do you share with GANNI? How was it to combine both brands?
VD: Both of our designs are very individual and recognizable in terms of energy. So since we shared a unique approach, it made it easy to align our vision that worked for both brands and also most importantly our community would like.
Image Courtesy of GANNI and Veneda Carter.
S: What was the process of going from styling to jewellery?
VD: There are a lot of crossovers between both spheres actually. With both, you need to build a concept and an idea in your mind, for which you are drawing inspiration from different avenues. By pulling together resources from all over, you can then bring a specific vision to life.
S: What emotional value does jewellery hold for you?
VD: My love for jewellery first started with this solid gold Jesus pendant necklace that was gifted to me by my grandmother when I was younger. To this day, it’s my favorite piece of jewellery that I own and it actually was the inspiration for the first piece of jewelry that I designed and launched the business with. It’s very sentimental and my designs definitely build an emotional tie to my upbringing.
S: Your jewellery seems heavily influenced by hip-hop and rap. How do you translate these influences into your jewellery line?
VD: I’ve always been really interested and inspired by the fashion of 90s hip-hop and rap, so naturally it crosses over to my jewelry designs. I love to reference old images of the greats and translate the boldness, weight and layering into the designs and styling of my collection.
S: With your background in celebrity styling, are there any memories or lessons that you still take with you in your jewellery business?
VD: Just to stay true to yourself and your vision, always follow your gut instincts.
See the GANNI x Veneda Carter jewellery collection here.