Erika Hansen

Hi there, I’m Erika. Nature loving designer and creator from the beautiful South Island of New Zealand. I was fortunate to grow up in the Nelson region, surrounded by beautiful coastline and native bush.

A deep curiosity and desire to observe and understand nature began at a young age. I have always been fascinated by natural form, finding awe in both the vast openness and tiny details of things. I love to explore the expression of form and how this connects with and evokes emotion in people. Perhaps it’s my Scandinavian heritage but I’ve always felt drawn to the minimalist, timeless elegance of Scandinavian Design.

Having completed an Industrial Design degree at Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand I entered the professional design industry but before long the mountains were calling…and well…we all know one must go ;) …I found myself living in Whistler, BC surrounded by rugged mountains, picturesque lakes and dense forest. With nature all around, creative inspiration was everywhere.

New adventures meant new opportunities, leading to freelance work as a jewellery designer for Nelson’s internationally acclaimed Jens Hansen Gold & Silversmiths (no relation, we just share a surname). During this time I designed ‘The Nelson Ring’ and ‘The Golden Kiwi’ for Jens Hansen. ‘The Golden Kiwi’ has been officially gifted to Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall and ‘The Nelson Ring’ has been gifted to Nelson mayor Rachel Reese and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. I enjoyed creating these designs so much that I couldn’t stop dreaming about new collections.

I use a combination of traditional and contemporary design practices in the design process. Integrating hand sketching, wood turning and modelling with computer aided design, 3D printing and metal casting enables me to effectively bring my ideas to life. My goal is to create modestly elegant and timeless jewellery, inspired by nature, enjoyed by you.

Erika