Kari Staten is the aesthetic genius behind the stunning jewellery of Zuka Artful Acessories. A self-taught designer, Staten creates pieces that are timeless. Delicate crystals and charms are fused with hard metals to form an enchanting coalition of texture and movement. Within the walls of a remarkable heritage building is her studio. The Peak had the chance to visit this charismatic space and discover more about Staten’s creations.

Kari Staten in her studio

Kari Bee: How did you choose the name Zuka?

Kari Staten: I wanted to get something that had meaning and soul. I went to the library and sat there all day with the dictionary and ended up with Zuka. Its Swahili, it means to appear suddenly. And I don’t have any formal training; this is just me and a handful of buttons and beads.

Kari Bee: What inspires you?

Kari Staten: I get some great inspirations from shows. The collection Meringue was kind of my homage to Mad Men. And believe it or not I’ve been watching the Young and the Restless since I was a toddler. They have the store Fenmores that displays the jewellery. It’s kind of on my vision board or wish list, to get my jewellery on the Young and Restless.

I like modern, I like romantic. My favourite places are Paris and Copenhagen. My family lives right in downtown Copenhagen. You’re right by billions of years old things and then you have this edgy kind of architecture. I think modern and I think of Arne Yakobson or Poulsen who designs those amazing lights, but then again you have old and new in Denmark. I’ll look at period museums, the crown jewels. It has that old eclectic art feel.

And colour is very important to me. I love colour.

Headband from Orchid

Kari Bee: Can you describe the creative process?

Kari Staten: I get inspiration from lots of different mediums. I watch awards shows. They set what’s happening next season in terms of a look, whether it’s a neckline or a colour. I ‘m always doing a little mini sketches. Or I talk to some of my stores, see what colour story they’re bringing in.

I do collages. I think my pieces end up looking like that. I know some designers only use 14 karat gold or Swarovski crystal. But I think you have a little bit more texture when you mix. So it will go from mango wood with a 24 karat leaf overlay and some stone, some chain, a bit of leather. I’ve got a bit of everything, home decor, city lines, trying to pull in crowns and orchids.

Collage, part of the creative process

And I’m all for recycling. I love using things that I used 3 or 4 years ago, thinking of how to do it differently. When I started I was more of a delicate person, little tiny crystals, very feminine. But then I started working for a designer and he’s like if it’s going to be on the runway you have to be able to see it. Magnify it like 10 times. That’s when I started doing bigger pieces.

Kari Bee: How long does it take to make a piece?

Kari Staten: One particular piece, from the collection Byzantine was a mistake, an accidental piece. I was going for a long knotted pendant but it looked strange, so I did a side knot with the 3 strands. It takes about 2 hours. I thought it would be easy but you have to balance that knot and weave the chain, it’s got to sit just right. It can’t be too heavy or bulbous. I usually do one piece where I’m like wow this is cool but when I reproduce it, it takes forever. So I’ll sit there and fight with it. I don’t want to put it on to my girls; I’m not going to make them do anything like that. I don’t want to tax them too much.

Kari Staten at work

Kari Bee: Is there any piece that really stands out to you?

Kari Staten: I feel like that about one or two pieces within each collection. The bigger pieces that I did about a season ago; they’re more layered, more like statements. The ones that sort of push you a bit.

Necklace of mixed mediums

Kari Bee: What do you have in works for the future?

Kari Staten: This is the time when I start collecting. I’ve got magazines, ideas. I do a lot of custom bridal work. In November they launch the new crave Vancouver book which I’ll be in. But I think they liked photographing my dog Kai more then they liked photographing me.

I just did a shoot with Karolina Turek. That was a really interesting experience.  Singer Sara Lynn wore my stuff in a music video.  And Dawn Chubai on breakfast television, she wears my stuff for gala events. She used to wear it on camera but some pieces were too chunky and kept hitting the mic. I would love to have any celebrity wear a piece. I get so much inspirations from what they wear. It would be so incredible to have someone be inspired by my pieces.

More of Kari’s pieces

Photography: Jenny Waters

Zuka Artful Accessories website: http://www.zuka-art.com

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