In her fourth and final Voxfrock report from Paris for this series of Elli’s Eyes, renowned photographer Elli Ioannou meets the rare and wonderful Will Hanigan, a not-your-average New York-based jewellery designer in Paris for Fashion Week. Words and photos: Elli Ioannou
Something in the water?
I met Will Hanigan first via Instagram. His profile description drew me:
Yawuru man Australian Aboriginal Diver and Designer
South Sea Pearls
5th Generation Pearler from Broome
Totemic Jewellery & Art
Sydney & New York
In his early career, Will did all the diving but, he’s lucky now, that he can buy from his dad, one of the main wholesale suppliers of pearls in WA.
I asked Will, how much his cultural identity influences his work. He told me how important it is to understand there is spirituality involved in being Aboriginal and understanding the properties of the stones from this perspective is not only integral for him, it is also akin to Indian Ayurveda philosophy.
On his silver cuffs, fashioned out of crocodile skin: “Crocodile I see as one of my totems. Often the shapes in earrings and pendants are shells I find when I’m on the beach in Broome where I grew up (at 80 mile beach). Small, tiny, little shells…I can turn them into earrings..”
I asked him what he dreams for his brand and designs. “To bridge the gap between what is high fashion and quality jewellery; (to make) fine jewellery, in an aesthetic that is fashionable and desirable…South sea pearls; no one is really doing that. To sell this in Europe and the USA would be my goal…”
Will Hanigan is based in New York. I photographed him here with his partner, Iskra Galic, a model and PhD in Psych-autism from Melbourne Australia!
Elli Ioannou, info@voxfrock.com.au
