Bond Street’s best-kept jewellery secret: VANLELES

Find out where those in-the-know go when it comes to hunting down jewels with a difference. Shop VANLELES jewels: http://ow.ly/ZcUsw Enter the world of VANLELES, a new arrival on Bond Street, and meet Vania Leles, the woman behind the brand, who brings us her very personal approach to jewellery that never forgets the African origins of her family. Born in Guinea-Bissau and brought up in Portugal, the former model left her New York catwalk career to train to be a gemmologist and diamond-grader. Vania then gained 10 years’ experience at some of the most prestigious jewellery houses on Bond Street before opening her own first-floor salon. Vania meets each of her clients and makes buying jewellery a very personal experience. Sometimes the client will see the rough stone and follow the process right through to the finished piece. Vania understands that her level of clients probably have jewels from the big names on Bond Street and are looking for jewels that are different and with a story to tell. Ethics and sustainability are key to Vania. “I am one of the few black African women to own a luxury jewellery business of this calibre,” she says. “I hope to be an inspiration to other African women. As I am from Africa, it is natural for me to care about where my products come from and to make sure, as much as I can, that I try to use ethically sourced and sustainable materials.” “I always believed that jewellery shouldn’t start at the shop floor, but where it all begins - at the mines, and the communities around the mines,” adds Vania. “That’s important to me, and more and more of my clients want that beautiful story linked to their pieces of jewellery. It is a moral duty that I have as I am one of them.” Vania offers five different collections, many of which are inspired by her life, travels and memories of Africa. Vania also offers a bespoke jewellery service that can feature gems of the highest value or a customised engagement ring. Vania’s collections include Legends of Africa, with its distinctive drop earrings shaped like the continent and a rich cornucopia of coloured gemstones. Interpreted in pretty pastels, the Enchanted Garden collection features flowers and trees of urban gardens that Vania visited in New York, London and Tokyo. Butterflies are a constant theme in Vania’s life and she has collected them since childhood, and this love is reflected in the Dancing Butterfly jewels. The Timeless Wonders collection is all about marvellous stones that are the centrepiece of these one-off jewels. And Lyla’s Bow raises money for a brain cancer charity in memory of a friend’s daughter who died of this rare disease. Vania brings together her African heritage, a commitment to sustainability, beautiful gems, and great craftsmanship so very naturally that I think we are looking at the future of luxury jewellery for those who want jewels with a soul and a story to share.