Ilana's Inspirations | Interview With Tel Aviv Jewelry Entrepreneur

Young, bright and beautiful, 28-year-old Ilana Sarna is the inspiring Tel Aviv-based jewelry designer and founder behind fine jewelry brand Ilana Ariel. We picked her brains on her love for fine jewelry and uncover her journey as a visionary entrepreneur.

The Culture Trip: We understand your interest for jewelry started out very young. What sparked that interest?

Ilana Sarna: From a very young age I loved making things. Whether it was clothing for my Barbie dolls, clothing for myself, or paintings and drawings; I spent a great deal of time on my bedroom floor creating. One summer in high school, a friend of mine and I decided it would be fun to learn how to wire wrap, and returned to school in the fall with a bunch of new earrings we had made for ourselves. People took a real liking to our work and it was then that I decided I would eventually start my own jewelry line.

What did you do thereafter to groom your passion into a talent and later a business?

Stirring the fine jewelery scene with her visionary, bespoke designs.

Have you always imagined yourself to be a jewelry designer and later on owning your own business?

Even though I have always loved jewelry, in some ways I stumbled upon jewelry making. Once I decided to go that route, however: the dream of starting my own business and creating my very own designs became palpable very quickly.

Talk about business: tell us more about your company, Ilana Ariel.

Ilana Ariel is a fine jewelry company established since 2012 and based in New York City. Notable for the seamless union of polished and edgy aesthetics in the designs, the jewelry is rendered in 14k and 18k gold. Many of the pieces are also set with precious and semi precious stones, some of which are diamonds, rubies, emeralds, turquoise and tourmalines. The pieces can be purchased from Fivestory NY, Marlee’s By Tappers, Plan Deville NYC, Spring, and stephaniegottlieb.com.

What did you envision when you first started out Ilana Ariel?

I wanted to create a jewelry brand that was rooted in thoughtful design; to make everyday pieces that are sophisticated yet simultaneously approachable.

‘Diamond Stepping Stone Circle Necklace’, Stepping Stone Collection

Would you say you’ve achieved that experience for your customers?

With each piece, I want my customers to feel like they stand out even while wearing something more understated. The confidence doesn’t come from being ostentatious, rather from the elegance and design integrity of the piece.

Every designer has his or her own signature style. What would you say is yours?

I have three collections that are aesthetically different from one another. Still, they all reflect my love of asymmetry, which I express either through color or proportion.

From where do you draw your inspirations?

I draw inspiration from the powerful women in my family who taught and continue to teach me the meaning of grace and self-expression. I’m also heavily inspired by landscapes and cityscapes I’ve encountered while traveling.

‘Double Triangle Ring’, Ten Eleven Collection

Although you might have no lack of inspiration, what do you do to fuel your creativity when you have a designer’s block?

I look at old pictures of my grandmothers, mother and aunts, as well as reflect on my travels and the tokens I picked up along the way. Lately, I’ve also been hitting the streets of Tel Aviv in search of interesting floor tiles to inspire new shapes.

Which would say was your proudest creation, and why?

The ‘Ella’ ring with diamonds is by far my favorite. It’s a real showstopper, just like the woman it’s named for (my late maternal grandmother). The scalloped design adds a hint of femininity to an otherwise bulky ring, so it makes a statement while still being tasteful.

Are there any upcoming collections that we can look forward to?

I just launched ‘Primary’, which is exclusively available at Fivestory NY. The pieces feature a series of vibrant stones. When strung together, the first letter of each gem spells out a word. For example, the ‘Care’ pieces are set with Citrine, Aquamarine, Ruby and Emerald.

‘Mini Cap Crescent Chandelier Earrings’, Legacy Collection

Other than fine jewelry, was there anything else you’ve wished to design, or have designed?

I really love interior design. I intentionally called my brand ‘Ilana Ariel Collections’, instead of jewelry because I hope one day to expand and design home décor. All in good time!

If you could describe the brand, Ilana Ariel, in 3 words — what are they?

Whimsical, intelligent, and approachable

Do these words resonate with you as a person?

I would like to think so, yes.

How would you describe ‘a day in Ilana’s life’?

Truly every day is different. I wear a lot of hats. Some days are focused on designing, while others involve more administrative work like updating line sheets, my website, and contacting retailers.
Check out the Ilana Ariel Facebook Page and Website to stay updated on their latest news.
Wani Azahar
Never starting the day without a warm cup of coffee, Wani is a 24-year-old Singaporean who loves writing about her travel and dining adventures.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.