Hi, I am Joana. I am a jewellery artist and the creator of Pinah.

Pinah was born out of my passion for jewellery, shapes, and forms, but most importantly, because I believe jewellery is the ultimate form of self-expression. And frankly, we need it more than ever.

In a world where everyone's dressing the same, it's through your jewellery that you get to be interesting.

Look around - it's like everyone agreed on a uniform, right? But jewellery? That still tells the truth about who you are. Whether it is basic information, such as being married, spiritual, rebellious... or more intriguing messages, you are bold, creative, fun, stylish, curious, refreshing, provocative... It just shows.

It is through jewellery that you get to play with what part of yourself you want to reveal. What side of you do you want to show at work? At the restaurant with friends? At the family gathering? Visiting an exhibition or while travelling? How do you choose to be seen while life is happening? So, yeah, it is through your jewellery that you get to be interesting.

And that's why I created Pinah. Because I was tired of boring options. Everything felt safe, mass-produced, designed for someone who wasn't me. It seems that every single piece of jewellery was made just to blend in. No personality at all. So I decided to make what I actually wanted to wear.

After all, I've been making jewellery since I was 12, and it has always helped me express myself.

My theatre background taught me to reimagine the world around me, that anything can become anything else: a simple napkin can be a bird or a book, a chair can become a tree, and a bucket can be a very friendly dog.

And I bring that same spirit to my jewellery creations, which I actually prefer to call "experiments to wear".

For me, jewellery doesn't have to be made of precious metals or stones, in traditional forms, or that special heirloom that you are even afraid to wear. It can be, of course, but it can be so much more. I believe a better definition of jewellery is anything you wear on your body that is not clothes. Simple as that.

And with this in mind, I experiment and play with anything that can be made into something wearable. Clay, resin, found objects, silver, gold, iron, stainless steel, fabric, porcelain, leather, paper, cardboard, eggshells... Anything goes. Just exploring the possibilities of what a piece of jewellery can be and what story it can tell.

The jewellery collections:

• Permanent Collection, the everyday essentials. Pinah's ongoing pieces that are curious enough to stand out, yet versatile enough to work with whatever you're wearing, whenever you wear it. All pieces are made by hand in small batches and created for those who understand that "playing it safe" is the real risk.

• Limited Edition of 1, made once, never repeated. One-of-a-kind experiments in forms, textures, materials and concepts. Always made by hand, and all starting with 'what if?', these pieces can take anywhere from days to months to complete. Be sure not to miss out on them. Once they are gone, they are gone.

From start to finish, everything is made by hand by me, only.

Through a fluid and intuitive process, I bring an offbeat approach to making jewellery, constantly pressing, cutting, soldering and sculpting, using my hands as my primary tool to experiment and play with shapes and forms. Some pieces come alive fairly quickly; others take months of wrestling and reworking.

Every piece has its own creative journey, and like being born, it is raw and cathartic - but that's where the magic happens, not in planning or sketching, but in the actual doing. Like brushstrokes in a painting, each piece comes to life with its own personality and marks.

No two pieces are ever the same, making each creation truly unique.

Have you ever thought that jewellery is a conversation between the wearer's personal style and the maker's vision?

Think about it.

I make the jewellery because I believe it is the best way of expressing ourselves, but you wearing it is a crucial part of the process.

I can even say it is a co-creation process. I take care of the first part, which is bringing an idea into reality, and you are responsible for the second, third, fourth... parts, interpreting and translating that idea into how and where you decide to wear it.

Every twist of a necklace, placement of a ring, or layering of bracelets adds your individual touch, turning the jewellery into your self-expression. Your choice to mix, match, layer, or even repurpose pieces brings forth a unique narrative, blending your identity with my idea. 

An earring as a brooch or as a substitute for a shirt button? Why not. A necklace worn as a belt, a bracelet or even in ways I never imagined? Even better.

It is a never-ending chat where you get to decide how to express yourself.

Finally, Pinah jewellery is for those who know that what they put on their bodies matters. Who understands that in a sea of sameness, your jewellery is where you get to be interesting.

You found your way here, which means you already know the difference between decoration and self-expression.

Welcome to the journey. I hope you enjoy it.

Joana Pires is a self-taught jewellery artist who uses mixed media to create her pieces.

Brazilian, based in London, UK, Joana graduated in both Drama and Cinema. She spent over 12 years as an actress and producer before creating Pinah and becoming a full-time maker.

Her work is experimental, and her final pieces are raw, playful and wearable.

Through her pieces, Joana wants to explore the possibilities of what a piece of jewellery can be and what story it can tell.

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Joana is a member of Dialogue Collective and Precious Collective.

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