About Me

Welcome! I'm Rilana, the founder of and designer behind RILANA NYC, and I have been in love with jewelry and how it makes me feel since I was little. From wearing my grandma's jewelry and collecting gemstones as a child to making my own beaded necklaces as a teenager and taking a metalsmithing class later in life, jewelry has always been close to my heart.

RILANA began as nostalgique. The first designs were heavily inspired by the 80s, the decade I was born and grew up in, and drew from a personal archive of nostalgia, warmth and wonder. Creating those pieces carried a bittersweet appreciation for a time defined by exploration and fun. I wanted the name of the brand to echo that sentiment.

But over time it became clear to me that the pieces represented so much more, particularly to the customers wearing them. What came back most consistently during those initial time in business was how powerful the geometric forms felt, and how much strength they carried.

So I decided to change the name to represent something rooted in the present and looking forward, something personal.

The strong geometric forms are designed to serve as an embodiment and reminder of the inner strength every woman carries within her. This strength is not borrowed from the jewelry, but reflected back by it.

I hope my pieces will make you feel powerful and beautiful and most importantly bring you joy when you put them on.

Love,

          Rilana  🩷