What do you get when you combine the vibrant heritage of Africa and one, fierce, driven female? Vania Leles shows us with her exquisitely designed collections of jewelry, all inspired by the rich colors and textures of African culture. Founder, Vania Leles is striving to tell the stories of her homeland through ethically sourced gemstones.
VANLELES’ Founder and Creative Director, Vania Leles, is a Gemmologist and world citizen who exudes a rare mix of vibrant African heritage, European sensibility, American dynamism and a global flair for design and creativity.
An Afropolitan born in Guinea Bissau and educated in Lisbon and London, Vania’s multi-faceted career in the world of international luxury took her to Paris and New York, where she lived for several years. She now calls London her home, and has established her brand and built a family. A true citizen of the world, Vania Leles has made VANLELES a global brand.
After graduating from the Gemological Institute of America and spending over a decade working for renowned fine jewelry brands GRAFF, De Beers and Sotheby’s, Vania Leles decided to launch her brand in 2011 with an atelier in London’s New Bond Street, the very heart of the international fine jewelry world.
Based on London’s prestigious Brook St, the VANLELES atelier sits in esteemed company, just a stone throw from iconic jewelers Cartier and Harry Winston. The brand’s presence in London’s fine jewelry district is a statement, Leles insists, that African jewels and the stories they tell belong in the premier jewelry sphere. The Afropolitan implores young Africans to follow her lead in building the reputation of Africa’s creativity and gemstone authority.
Inspired by her birthplace of Guinea-Bissau, Vania seeks to share the stories and rich culture of Africa through her collections, as she applies a global flair for creativity, to all of her work. Named after some of Africa’s most iconic landmarks, each collection takes you on a captivating journey of discovery as you travel from the legendary flow of the Nile, to the breath-taking heights of Kilimanjaro and the yellow heat of the Sahara.
The African mining industry has grown in reputation over recent decades, receiving it’s share of negative press as media attention and the film industry has shone a light on the darker side of gem mining and trade. With civil unrest and human rights exploitation often at the forefront of media coverage, the natural resource of stunning gemstones offered by Africa has arguably fell behind in the mining conversation.
Boasting a rich and plentiful source of gemstones, African mining locations such as Zambia and Mozambique attract gem dealers and jewelry designers from across the globe, vying for the natural beauty excavated from the continent’s rich earth. Africa is revered for its wealth of exquisite gemstones, including rubies, emeralds, diamonds and sapphires. So often, global dealers and designers deliver the gemstones sourced from Africa to Western customers, where prices can soar and any connection to the gems’ source as well as the communities whose livelihoods are dependent on them, are lost.
Crucial to the VANLELES brand and ethos is the responsible sourcing methods employed. Leles’ unwavering commitment to ethical sourcing of gemstones and precious metals, and an unparalleled belief in responsible mining, is leading the way for a new era of mindful and engaged luxury. Dedicated to providing a fare wage and working environment, VANLELES source gems from Africa and mines that adhere to environmental and human rights, as well as pay local taxes and treat miners decently with fair wages.
This dedication to ending exploitation in her homeland also inspires Vania Leles’ philanthropic endeavours. This has seen her assist countless charitable campaigns to support communities and young women through education and health programmes, creating collections to fund essential aid and empowerment efforts in Africa.
VANLELES celebrates the beauty and landscapes of Africa, using Zambian-sourced emeralds, Mozambique-sourced rubies, rubellites and diamonds, Paraiba tourmaline and sapphires in collections such as Legends of Africa, Out of Africa and Enchanted Garden. Leles’ heritage is explored further in designs inspired by African prints and traditional desert dwellings.
Ultimately, Vania Leles is seeking to showcase the talents and resources from a culture and landscape that has been long-overlooked. Her work highlights the beauty and creativity of a strong and multi-faceted heritage.
“The true beauty and highest value of jewelry shouldn’t start at the shop floor. It should start where it all began, and for me, that’s at the community level. My intention has always been to bring the voice of these communities to fine jewelry, and part of this is ensuring that, where possible, I source gems from mines that adhere to environmental and human rights, as well as pay local taxes and treat miners decently with fair wages.” Vania
