Rèfainì
We hung out with the creative director of Rèfainì to talk about the art of statement jewellery, finding inspiration in her surroundings and what makes jewellery timeless.
ARENI Attire | September
What inspired you to launch Rèfainì?
I felt there was a gap in Nigeria for statement jewellery. I also wanted to create good quality jewellery that wasn’t as expensive as real gold. I’d been sitting on the idea for a while but after praying about it, a friend independently told me she felt I was meant to start something in jewellery. That gave me the confirmation I needed to take the leap of faith.
Who is the Rèfainì girl?
The Rèfainì girl is me. I know that sounds a bit selfish but I generally design for myself and for other women who are open to experimenting with their style. I started Rèfaini to be expressive, so I’m moving away from playing it safe. I design for the women who see jewellery as an essential part of their outfit, that extra oomph that completes their look.
What’s your creative process behind a collection?
It varies but I’m always inspired by my surroundings. I’m mostly based in Lagos, so a lot of my inspiration comes from things around me. It could be an object, a material or something I saw growing up. With our coral pieces for example, I wanted to explore how something traditional could be worn in a more contemporary way. Usually one idea becomes the starting point and every piece in the collection stems from it.
What do you think Rèfainì is doing particularly well right now?
I think we bring a fresh perspective to jewellery. We create pieces that you may not have seen before, while also making sure we offer really good customer service.
What makes jewellery feel timeless?
For me, timeless means it’s something you can wear often and in multiple ways. When I’m designing, I’m always thinking about how a piece can have multiple uses. Can you wear it long or short? Can part of it be detached and worn on its own? It’s really about wearability and having multiple opportunities to wear the same piece.
"I started Rèfainì to be expressive, so I’m moving away from playing it safe. I design for the women who see jewellery as an essential part of their outfit, that extra oomph that completes their look."
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Who would you love to collaborate with that you haven’t yet?
I’d love to collaborate with Dye Lab or Quacktails. We’ve been experimenting with colour lately. I feel like people are really afraid of it and they’re both really colourful brands. It would be interesting to see how we could infuse colour into jewellery in a way that still feels wearable and versatile.
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Gold or Silver?
Both. But if I had to pick, probably gold. I definitely wear it more than silver.
ARENI Attire is an editorial series spotlighting the people behind the brands you’ll discover on ARENI, who are shaping contemporary Nigerian fashion.