IN CONVERSATION: jewellery designer Emma Olyff

Jewellery Designer and Founder of EMWA Jewelry Emma Olyff.

For some of us, creativity runs in the family, passed down like a beloved heirloom from one generation to the next. Jewellery designer Emma Olyff, the founder of EMWA Jewelry, is one such person. Her grandfather was a graphic designer who created the UNESCO-logo that graces buildings all around the world, her mother designs gardens and her father worked as a sculptor for the Belgian artist Olivier Strebelle.

As a child, Emma spent countless hours in the sculpting studio, watching her father practice his craft. There, she became intrigued by the formidable bronzes that emerged from his hands. It planted the seed for her lifelong passion for metalwork and jewellery.

“I’ve been in love with jewellery my whole life,” she says. “Not only for its beauty but also for its meaning. I remember visiting art fairs like TEFAF and BRAFA as a kid and being completely captivated by ornamental jewellery from ancient tribes and civilisations, especially Egyptian artefacts.”

Creating jewellery in her atelier.

Slow Living in the Appalachian Mountains

Nature is a recurring theme in these treasures from the past and remains an inexhaustible source of inspiration for Emma today. “Whenever I take a walk, I find myself drawn to a tree, a stone, or a leaf and wonder: ‘Could I turn this into a piece of jewellery?’ I might imprint a necklace with tree bark or translate the delicate veins of a leaf into a bracelet.”

It feels fitting, then, that Emma now lives amid nature’s grandeur, nestled into the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. After years of living around the globe — from Belgium to San Francisco, Copenhagen to the Netherlands — she and her husband, who is half-Danish, half-American, found their way to Asheville.

“He wanted to return to his homeland because it’s such an incredible place,” she says. “I understand why. Not only are we surrounded by breathtaking nature, but also by intentional communities that value a mindful, slower way of living.” A lifestyle that deeply resonates with Emma.

“Practising yoga, talking to like-minded people, visiting my favourite artisan shops, coming home to make jewellery and winding down in the evening with a walk in nature… all these moments are essential to me.”

At home, warmth and cosiness set the atmosphere. “The fireplace and the kitchen are my happy places. They truly warm my soul.”

It’s in this kitchen that she loves to cook for friends and family, a ritual that traces back to cherished childhood dinners shared with her mother and grandmother.

Nature plays a significant role in Emma's creative process.

Introspective and Creative Retreats

Her affinity for hospitality, nature and jewellery culminates in the retreats Emma hosts, both privately in Asheville and collectively in the Belgian Ardennes.

“The idea behind the retreats is to invite people into these incredible natural surroundings, where they can slow down and be well taken care of during a week of relaxation. Because sometimes we all need a pause, a moment when we don’t have to plan anything, when we can let go of our daily to-do’s and simply land.”

During the retreat Emma also teaches her guests how to make an original piece of jewellery. “There’s time for a bit of introspection, for thinking about your values and important moments in life. I help my guests translate these reflections into a unique piece, guiding them through every single step of the process: from sketching the design to casting the piece and setting the stones. You leave both rested and recharged and with something tangible, a beautiful souvenir imbued with meaning.”

Emma herself always wears her Odile ring, created in honour of her grandmother, a daily reminder of the personal stories a piece of jewellery can hold.

Emma wearing her Odile ring, a tribute to her grandmother.

The Art of Craftsmanship

It comes as no surprise that the collections of EMWA Jewelry are defined by sustainability, exclusivity - only 12 pieces of each design are made - and craftsmanship. Even when travelling, Emma is drawn to cities renowned for their artisans. "In Venice, for example, you can step into a little family-owned boutique and see someone working on a precious piece in the atelier at the back. That kind of generational craftsmanship is also very present in Paris, not just in jewellery but also in textiles and sculpture as well."

Expanding Creative Horizons

Emma lives by a powerful mantra, instilled in her through both her family and her education, saying: “I pretty much have zero limitations in my mind about what is possible.” She also trusts that opportunities reveal themselves when one is open to receive them. True to that spirit, she is now expanding her creative universe beyond jewellery into bronze household objects for the home, a new project inspired by the renovation of her own charming dwelling in the peaceful mountains of North Carolina.

Every piece of jewellery is sustainably made and carefully crafted by hand.