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Lana Sanichar's couture jewellery designs inspired by fashion, history and the world around her
Interviewing Lana Sanichar, Owner & Designer of Lana Sanichar's Jewellery Creations
 

On an average day, Lana Sanichar, creative designer and owner of Lana Sanichar's Jewellery Creations, works intimately with local brides while the rest of the world is logging on to her website. All of these clients come to Lana for her signature, hand-created necklaces, earrings, couture bridal tiaras, non-custom bridal tiaras, headbands, hair jewels, everyday jewellery and bracelets.

This fresh, creative professional is not only a Kitchener area custom jewellery designer, she's already 'gone international'. Designing for and shipping to clients that range from Kitchener brides to shoppers in the rest of Canada, England, India, Australia and Ireland, staff at The Ring had a lot to ask when we finally had our chance to sit down with Lana. Let us explain...

Personally speaking...
Lana has been in business for two years now, over which she has stayed on top of her craft by attending workshops and design classes - always looking for that new technique, stone or idea she hasn't thought of before.

Lana made it clear to us that designing jewellery isn't just a full-time career, it's a creative outlet, too. Lana says she's the happiest when she's creating couture pieces she knows her clients – the majority of whom are brides – will love.

"I'm happy to invest as much time and creativity into pieces as needed to make sure the bride is happy," she says. This means making as many changes as necessary to a piece to make it perfect. "I never choose profit over perfection. There is something available for every price range and personality."

Inspired by design
Every one of Lana's designs is inspired by everything around her, including fashion apparel and graphic design. She names each piece based on the Victorian era - a time, she says, when women wore much more jewellery than they do now. She's also inspired by the very stones, beads, pearls, and metals she uses; just playing with them can result in great designs.

Lana uses stones from around the world in her pieces with a particular affinity for Swarovski and freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals, and semi-precious stones. When the pieces are created, they take on different meanings due to what the stones used might be associated with - such as luck, love or prosperity.

Jewellery Options
All necklaces are created using sterling silver, different sizes of Swarovski crystals and pearls, Czech crystals, freshwater pearls and Bali silver. "A substantial amount of time goes into producing each piece," explains Lana. Gold and gold plated components are available upon request. The floater necklace (a necklace that makes its beads, pearls or crystals look like they're floating) is the most popular for the bridal party, with the Jessica design coming in as a close second. Lana doesn't like to split up her sets, so oftentimes a necklace will come with a complimentary pair of earrings.

Many earrings are complimentary when you purchase a necklace, but there are a few that aren't. "Earrings are such a personal choice," explains Lana. "The newest trend is for the bride to have large chandelier earrings and a bracelet without wearing a necklace. However, some women prefer studs as opposed to dangly earrings." Earrings can be customized to go with a necklace.

Each bracelet's component is sterling silver. Some are very intricate and difficult to create. The Suzanne design, for example, has over 700 hand sewn crystals in it. "Freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals or Czech beads in a bracelet are dazzling on any bride."

Custom created tiaras, headbands, and combs... All tiaras are created using sterling silver coated wire, different sizes of crystals and pearls, silk flowers, and clay flowers. "Each of these is a beautiful way to accent any gown," says Lana. Tiaras can take up to six months to produce, depending on availability and design intricacy.

Lana also creates everyday jewellery that can be worn on a daily basis or for just the evening. "I combine semi-precious stones, unusual stitches, ribbon and pearls to create pieces unavailable anywhere else." All metal components are sterling silver.

Lana Sanichar One-of-a-Kinds are, as Lana explains, "... Pieces that will never be made again... They either have exemplary style and beauty that can never be replicated or they are the last of their kind."

Your design or mine?!
While you have a wide range of beautiful pieces to choose from, you also have the option of a custom designed piece. Lana will work with you to develop a gorgeous design or she can alter one of her already-made designs to suit your taste, so long as she feels it is reasonable and in good taste. "I see custom design as a chance to allow brides to use my designs as a blueprint to create their dream jewellery," she says. While planning her May 3rd, 2008 wedding, Stephanie (a bride in The Ring, who also chats under the name of Steph050308) found Lana Sanichar at a local bridal show. "I saw some of her jewellery showcased at the show... It was absolutely beautiful... I went online to check it out." After being able to check out most of Lana's creations from her own home computer, Stephanie decided to have Lana create jewellery for herself and her bridal party. The pieces included a custom broach for the gathering on her wedding gown, a bridal pearl necklace, earrings and bracelet, and then three necklaces, three pairs of earrings and three bracelets for her bridesmaids. "The pearls and pearl color was custom ordered for my girls and I. The broach was custom designed just for me. I love it, well actually I love everything! ...Lana was very outgoing, helpful, nice and wonderful to work with."
 

It's all about integrity for Lana, who will ensure the best overall look is achieved to suit the design of the wedding. Then she will work on your piece until its perfect, reworking it if need be to make sure you are absolutely happy with the final result. There's even a Swarovski colour chart for stones on her website to make choosing your design easy and fun. If you're ordering online and there are no changes, you can purchase the piece right then and there. If you want to alter a piece in anyway, you can e-mail Lana or arrange a time to meet at her studio to discuss your ideas.

A few of our favourite things...
When it comes right down to it, jewellery is a great idea for a number of reasons. First, it's becoming more and more popular among brides as a gift idea for their bridesmaids.

Second, most of Lana's designs can be worn again and again. "It's like having a little piece of your day with you always," says Lana, who will also take pieces such as tiaras and convert them into necklaces, bracelets or earring sets after the wedding day has come and gone. "Almost every bride has their tiara restructured," admits Lana. "If you're going to do this, use the least expensive non-tarnishing metal when you order your tiara since you'll just be changing it anyway." Lana converts her tiaras at no additional cost!

All prices are based on materials and the time it takes to do the pieces. Half the price is required as a non-refundable down payment. However, there is no extra charge for custom work, so Lana urges you to be creative and personalize your pieces.

Good to know
Hair vines, picks, combs, springs, and pins are all available. "Every item is interchangeable," explains Lana. "If you like a particular design but would like it on a spring instead of a pin, just contact us and let us know."

Lana says that necklace and earrings sets are the most popular item chosen by brides who come (or click on) to see her. These sets cost an average of $100.

Lana Sanichar custom tiaras usually ring in at about $140. "Brides who are wearing their hair up on their wedding day often chose tiaras."

Headbands are the new tiara, Lana says, with the cost at approximately $70, "Headbands are especially great for short hair or hair that will be left down."

All necklaces, earrings, and bracelets are made of either sterling or Argentium silver. Argentium silver doesn't tarnish and costs a little more, but Lana says, "it's particularly worth the investment if you're going to pass anything down to future generations."

Tiaras are made with sterling silver coated wire unless otherwise requested.

Lana Sanichar's most popular collections are the Emily and the Robin. Alexandra is also a popular design - a bride is able to coordinate her bridesmaids' colours, and choose 1 to 4 strands for the necklace.

You can purchase Lana's creations at the following retail locations...

A Moment In Time Bridal Boutique 26 Main Street in Cambridge

Brushwood At Home 772 Queen Street in Kincardine

Bridal Depot Inc. 20 William Street West in Waterloo

Cause for celebration
Since Lana specializes in serving up what brides and their bridesmaids are looking for in the way of jewels, it seemed only natural to her that she extends this service. Lana Sanichar offers home jewellery and bridal parties, allowing girls to shop for and custom design jewels together in the comfort of their own living rooms.

In other words...

"Thank you so much for creating the jewellery for my bridesmaid's and myself. The girls were absolutely beautiful and the crystals you picked couldn't have matched their dresses any better. The necklace, earrings and bracelet you that created for me was gorgeous and I truly felt like a princess on my wedding day." - Stacey

"Dear Lana, I just want to thank you for the amazing job you did for all my girls for my wedding this past June. I especially want to thank you for the amazing piece that you designed for me... Thanks again for helping me look like a princess and having my dream wedding." - Sharon D.

detailsdetailsdetails

• 50% of your jewellery price is due at purchase

• Your balance is due at pick up

• Earrings often come complimentary with their matching necklace

• Tiaras take up to 6 months to design and create, so make sure to order early

• Lana will come to your house to showcase & custom design her jewellery creations with you and your bridal party

Custom designing your wedding jewellery

To see what Lana has in stock and what her creations look like, to make purchases or even to plan out your wedding jewellery colours, make sure to log onto www.lanasanichar.com. For special requests, she is available by email at lana.sanichar@rogers.com or by phone at 519-571-3856. Lana Sanichar's Jewellery Creations is located in Kitchener.