Photos courtesy of Koulianos Designs
This local jewelry brand brings next-level meaning to the way we accessorize with touches of culture and heritage.
Georgianna Koulianos of Koulianos Designs has dreamed of creating a jewelry line since she was a teen. While working at Traprock Suite in Scarsdale (the business has since relocated to Ardsley), she was inspired to start designing pieces that would stand out as her own. Shortly after graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design, she set out on bringing that mission to life, with the original iteration of her line carried by Bloomingdale’s and Fortunoff. Thirty years later, Koulianos is still handcrafting jewelry that brings meaning, joy, and comfort to her customers in Westchester and globally.
Inspired by her Greek heritage and her many trips there over the years, Koulianos wanted the jewelry aesthetic to not only be indicative of the culture but also add a layer of empowerment. “We like to tell stories and deeply appreciate art that speaks to culture, people, and symbolism,” says Koulianos. “Growing up with the Greek icons and a faith our grandparents and family instilled has become integral to [the most recent line] the Illuminations Collections.” It’s based on an antique European coat of arms. Each piece tells a story, representing identity, peace, and healing while functioning as a wearable piece of history. Her Tree of Life crest, for example, is a silver medallion with two deer flanking a wall, representing abundance, with a green topaz suspended on the chain above. From signet rings to drop earrings, Koulianos works across all types of design and media with her jewelry, with many collections ranging from 18k gold, sterling silver, and with a variety of diamonds and other natural gemstones. Prices range from under $100 for certain beaded necklaces up to the tens of thousands for other designs.
For Koulianos, crafting a piece of jewelry is more than creating something to dangle off a client’s neck at a handful of special occasions: it is a deeply personal act of reverence and artistry. “As a designer, I like my work to feel magical, allowing people to feel a natural connection and relationship to the pieces.”
Related: Auburn Jewelry Designs Permanent Accessories in Chappaqua
