Sarah Swell makes jewelry that is moody, bewitching, and darkly beautiful. She’s one of the lucky people who knew what she wanted to do at a young age. After dropping out of art school and taking a jewelry class, she knew exactly what direction she wanted to take her life in after holding her first torch.
She believes that people need to stop saying “All Lives Matter,” and re-focus on the current trend of racialized violence that specifically affects people of color. She has been using her Instagram to advocate for social change. She has shared relevant links on her profile such as “20 Social Justice Books For Young Adults And Middle Grades,” and “75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice.” She personally donated a pair of diamond earrings to the Still We Rise Auction No. 9, which is raising funds to benefit the Equal Justice Initiative, M4BL (Movement For Black Lives), and other worthy causes.
If you would like to help support Still We Rise, you can bid on the auction items up until June 29th at 7pm PST or make a Venmo donation here. Read all about her sources of inspiration, her allegiance to the #BlackLivesMatter Movement, and why she prefers Sausalito to Oakland. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did!
Amiah Taylor: Where do you stand as far as the #BlackLivesMatter Movement?
Sarah Swell: I (and we as a business) unequivocally support the Black Lives Matter Movement. I unequivocally rebuke police brutality and support (at the very least) massive reform and reframing of the police.
AT: So it’s safe to say that you consider yourself to be an ally?
SS: While I hope to be seen as an ally, and am not entirely new to the movement, there’s a lot of work I need to do to be able to call myself an ally. I’ve been focusing on ways to use my business as a vehicle for racial justice & social justice work, donating, and reading. It has always been a goal of mine to incorporate more of a social justice lens into my business, but in all honesty, I fell asleep at the wheel a bit over the past couple of years. This inflection point in our country sparked by the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd (among many others) has jerked me awake and I vow to never go back to sleep.
AT: It’s always good to see people intentionally doing the work to improve, so I can appreciate that. You’ve had to close your shop because of the California wildfires and then again for the pandemic. How do you continue with a spirit of optimism in the face of adversity?
SS: Well, I’ll start by saying that I’m certainly not always optimistic! Owning a small business has always and will always be a challenge. My business is an extension of myself, and making jewelry is my passion. Even when it’s difficult, I find myself returning again and again for the love of the craft.
AT: What ties you to Sausalito and why is it a special place for you?
SS: I moved my studio to Sausalito from Oakland because I was craving a quieter life. Sausalito has an interesting history, from its days as a raucous bootlegging town during prohibition to the counterculture music scene in the ’60s & ’70s, it’s always been a weird, special little place. And I love weird.
AT: What’s your favorite gemstone?
SS: I have to go with diamonds. Let me specify by saying unique diamonds. The range of colors and unique cuts is incredible. We use a lot of non-traditional diamonds in our work and I love it when clients ask what the stone is. They often do a double-take when we tell them it’s a diamond. From a designer standpoint, they’re very durable, so I like that I don’t need to stress when designing with them and in turn, clients don’t have to worry about durability when wearing them.
AT: You make jewelry modeled after fishbones. Fishbone jewelry has connections to cultures in both Hawaii and New Zealand. Is there any hidden significance or intentionality behind those specific designs?
SS: The fishbone series was my very first. I grew up on the east coast by the sea, so the design is more of an interpretation of a life lived by the ocean rather than anything very specific. Although it definitely has nods to both fish (in its scale-like fluidity) and snakes (with its serpentine-like movement.)
AT: You’ve described the Big Sur as your happy place. How much does immersion into nature factor into your happiness?
SS: Very much so! There’s nothing else that simultaneously calms me down and lights me up like being in the wilderness. Nature offers us a chance to forget about ourselves a bit and connect with the earth and I always welcome that escape.
AT: In your shop, you have a wall of antique mirrors. How did you come to collect so many mirrors from different time periods and is it safe to assume that you are inspired by antiquity?
SS: I’ve always had a thing for antiques and thrifting and have been collecting special objects since I was a teenager. The mirrors are no exception. I’ve gathered them over time, mostly from estate sales, yard sales, thrift shops, and antique malls. And yes, I’m absolutely inspired by antiquity. It’s so powerful knowing that the objects in your life have a history. Much like the people we choose to surround ourselves with, objects can also become part of our story.
Image Credit: Sarah Swell and Still We Rise
Excellent interview the mystical pear ring is beautiful
I enjoyed the article and I’ll be checking out the “Still We Rise” auction!