Hailey Gerrits

There was always something about the richness of brass that caught Hailey Gerrits’s eye. When she began her jewelry practice in 2010, it wasn’t long before she could be found digging through bins of antique and vintage brasses in warehouses the size of airplane hangars, patiently searching for the perfect piece. It was the unknown origins and histories of aged metals, and the uniqueness of hand cut gemstones, that captured her imagination—the otherwise unobtainable quality of some spirit attached to every necklace, bracelet and earring she produced.

It was only fitting that Gerrits would channel this quality into the process of her jewelry making. Gerrits infuses her modern designs with centuries-old legacies, calling forth some of the finest traditions in art and beauty. In aged brass and bold design, she finds the ability to bring classic style with modern sensibility to her customers.

Hailey Gerrits Designs has come to encapsulate an understated glamour and sophistication in its eight year tenure. Gerrits offers a decidedly unique product: not only is each piece handmade, but construction with unique gems and aged metals imbues each piece with an image of the past and all of its romance—fully embodying the notion of ‘one of a kind’. Each piece fuses the earthly character of the metals and gems with a historical materialist transcendence and refined artistic ability. Gerrits captures a timeless whimsicality in her pieces, pairing the bold shapes and raw character of Giacometti’s sculptures with Brancusian aesthetic sensibilities and materials. Her pieces are functional and build up a personality in everyday wear, but are also distinct in their capacity as objets d’art—serving equally as items to be admired.

Her work calls back to the golden ages of sculpture and the visual influence of primitivism, but is never dated—making evident her ability to combine brand new inspirations with the ideas she holds dear. Her collections are handmade in small batches in her studio in Vancouver, BC, and all materials are ethically sourced. This culminates in the creation of collections which respect the people and planet alike; a celebration of beauty that doesn’t sacrifice sustainability or style.