Kia ora!
In case you didn’t know, I’m Sonia ~ jewellery maker and designer behind Sonia Therese Designs. I am a Māori artist based in Ōtautahi, Christchurch New Zealand and I have been making jewellery for nearly 10 years.
I didn’t start in that place, though. My career began in the world of geotechnical engineering with projects that spanned massive stadiums in Australia, tunnel projects in the UK and eventually a PhD in natural hazard risk and resilience in New Zealand. But after the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, my pathway led to greater creative expression in my life. Jewellery making just kind of happened ~ it wasn’t exactly planned!! With so much destruction all around me during and after the quakes, there was a powerful need in me to make beautiful things.
And then, in 2020, the “what the hell” moment happened! In the middle of the Covid pandemic I was invited to showcase my work at New York Fashion Week ~ and I did, twice. Live breakfast TV interviews, camera crews and reporters in my studio, magazine articles, rooftop runway shows, virtual designer shows, boutique placements in Manhattan ~ it was all happening! Talk about a rush, and a huge privilege to be representing my family, my iwi and my country on such a big stage.
It was a double edged sword, however. Trying to maintain that momentum as the world shut down was incredibly difficult. I learned that the fashion industry is often geared towards mass production and endless collection release cycles. That sat in direct opposition to my values as a Māori artist; slower, more intentional and more meaningful design. Trying to keep up eventually led to burnout, an ADHD realisation and diagnosis, and ultimately a brand new way forward for me and my art!
This is where you find me today. With all these years of experience behind me, now actively choosing to focus on greater sustainability (for me and for my work), more intentional design and storytelling, small batches, more presence!
So, if you are new to what I offer, Welcome! And if you have been around for a while, you will already know a lot of this journey and may have walked alongside me on it. Also, Welcome! This is Sonia Therese Designs. You belong here!
Feel free and welcome to browse what I offer these days, follow along and don’t be shy of getting in touch. I love to hear from you, and hear how your journey and mine intersect.
Sonia