maker
Wolf People
“Jewelry is more than just a fashion statement.” By Kimberly Nicoletti
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and winter seasons she loves equally. Her designs also reflect a love of travel, history, nature and, overall, kindness. In fact, her one-of-a-kind pieces not only contribute to women feeling empowered; they also help save lives. SUPPORTING AFRICAN FAMILIES + BEYOND Hearn and Nthabiseng Dibakoane met in 2015, the same year Hearn launched her jewelry business. They began working together designing beaded and roped jew-
EMPOWERING WOMEN Hearn believes jewelry is more than just a fashion statement. She asserts that it’s an expression of love and connection, which conveys a story. When women wear an arrow pendant or gold anchor earrings from Wolf People’s Shield Maiden Collection, Hearn hopes women feel empowered; the Shield Maiden Collection reflects the story of the Viking culture’s strong and
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PHOTO COURTESY OF WOLF PEOPLE
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emma Hearn spent her childhood soaking in South Africa’s fertile landscape. Now, she designs her jewelry brand, Wolf People, based on South Africa’s rich, colorful sunsets, the feeling of its salty fresh ocean and the melting pot of its unique cultures. She incorporates her love of the Vail Valley — her home since 2005 — into her Colorado “Snowflower,” a combination of the Columbine flower and a snowflake, designed to represent both the summer
elry that Dibakoane would make. A year later, Dibakoane got in a car accident. “I lost everything — my car and almost my business” Dibakoane shares. “But Gemma’s support was always giving me strength.” When COVID hit, Dibakoane’s situation became even more dire. “Things were bad in a way that I couldn’t cope. I couldn’t manage to feed my son, since there was no business during COVID, but through her support I managed to survive,” Dibakoane says. “Her orders all the time helped me to put a plate on my table.” Their work together has also provided work to other artists in Dibakoane’s community in Mabopane; half of sales proceeds go to Dibakoane and her community, providing higher pay than women could typically receive in the region. “They are very grateful when I tell them about Gemma’s orders,” she adds. “We want to do more like this so we can provide more opportunities for my community.” In addition, Hearn supports artisans in India, whom she met through her world travels. They employ traditional practices, handed down through generations, to set gemstones. Hearn is also a huge animal lover, so a portion of proceeds from Wolf People supports animals through donations to ASPCA and WWF.
