Courtesy of Asiko
For designer Anita Quansah making jewelry isn't just a job, it's an art form steeped in a rich family tradition.
Courtesy of Asiko
Born in London, Quansah moved to Nigeria with her parents at the age of three. She grew up with her grandmother, a designer who made jewelry for African royalty.
Courtesy of Asiko
Her passion for design goes back to her childhood where she would often dress up. Her grandfather was a chief of tribe and the family felt its duty to perform elegance on every social occasion.
asiko
"I remember my grandmother had a chest full of embroidered, rich velvet materials, shimmered with so many metallic threads, heavily embroidered with jewels," she said.

"She would dress my siblings and me up and adorn our necks with beautiful coral necklaces and golden heavy pendants."
Courtesy of Asiko
Years later and after a collaboration with Christian Lacroix, Quansah decided to launch her own brand, where she designs jewelry in her grandmother's tradition.
Family Archive of Anita Quansah
"She's been a great muse, a great inspiration, a great mentor," Quansah told CNN. "She never complained - no work was too much for her. She was very patient. She never gave up. She always believed that if one way doesn't work out, you must try another way until you get better and reach your goals."

Pictured: Omenyi Clara Azuka Menkiti
Courtesy of Asiko
"No one in my family followed her path and she left so much of a gap for me to fill," continues Quansah. Her grandmother was the head designer for the king of Onitsha Obi of Onitsha
Courtesy of Vibe Magazine, Picasa
Now instead of royalty, Quansah's designs adorn celebrities like Alicia Keys, Thandie Newton and Keisha Buchanan.
Courtesy of Asiko
Quansah's heritage is ingrained in her designs. "I wanted to design jewelry that tells a story of celebration of my culture, craftsmanship, uniqueness, diversity. Of happiness and joy," she said.
Courtesy of Asiko
Despite the intricacy of her designs, Quansah's philosophy is simple: "Create something that is a piece of wearable art. Something that you can pass down generation to generation," she said.
Courtesy of Asiko
The creative process is a long one, with her creations taking several hours to complete. "I make everything myself. The collars with feathers take about three to four weeks, in which I spend 15 hours each day on the piece," she said.

Story highlights

Anita Quansah watched her grandmother create intricate jewelry for African royalty

Now she designs jewelry in her grandmother's tradition, using materials sourced from across West Africa.

CNN  — 

Omenyi Clara Azuka Menkiti spent her life creating jewelry for African royalty, now the spirit of her bold and intricate designs lives on through her granddaughter, designer Anita Quansah.

Born in London, Quansah moved to Nigeria with her parents at the age of three. As her parents worked, Quansah and her two younger siblings grew up with their grandmother, giving her a unique insight into how to make jewelry fit for royalty.

“She’s been a great muse, a great inspiration, a great mentor,” Quansah told CNN.

08:47 - Source: CNN
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“I remember she had a chest full of embroidered, rich velvet materials, shimmered with so many metallic threads, heavily embroidered with jewels.”

“She would dress me and my siblings up and adorn our necks with beautiful coral necklaces and golden heavy pendants. So basically it was like she was saying ‘You go out there and shine’”.

Years later and after collaboration with Christian Lacroix, Quansah decided to launch her own brand: Anita Quansah London. Quansah designs jewelry in her grandmother’s tradition, using textiles and beads sourced from across West Africa.

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Now, instead of royalty, her African inspired creations can be seen on the likes of celebrities including Alicia Keys, Keisha Buchanan and Thandie Newton.

“I make everything myself. The collars with feathers take about three to four weeks, in which I spend 15 hours each day on the piece,” Quansah said.

Her philosophy? “Create something that is a piece of wearable art. Something that you can pass down generation to generation.”

“I wanted to design jewelry that tells a story of celebration of my culture, craftsmanship, uniqueness, diversity. Of happiness and joy.”