Ever since I was a child I’ve called my grandma Api and, later on in life, I learned that this is the word in Italian for bees. From the first time I looked at bees for inspiration, their history, symbolism and some aspects of their social dynamics, began to appear as analogies of my family and work life.I’ve been getting this image of her as the queen of our hive: a small family ruled by a strong matriarchy. As a grandmother, she has taught me to be sweet and keep creativity alive; as a leader, she has instilled in me the value of community and teamwork. 

Api will be 86 when I launch this collection created in her honor. With collection no.12 I celebrate her decisive presence in my life, but also, I share my reflection on how the sense of community allowed our brand to survive through the challenges posed by the pandemic. Today, I understand more than ever that I couldn’t be where I am without the support of my family and team. 

Bees are focused foragers; they create dance moves to convey to one another the location of rich flowering spots. They have powerful nesting instincts. In several ancient cultures, they represent a bridge between the underworld and ours. In others, they’re related to earth and crops, to life and fertility. They’re persistent, they’re caring, they’re relentless. Their work is neat, precise, meant to help flowering plants mate, meant to foster and maintain life.

What perfect beings to express the female might!

With their mouths and bodies, they transform nectar into honey. Honey: a representation of richness and plenty; a symbol of the spoken and written word; a powerful medicine giver of life; a key element of marriage and love ceremonies for Viking, Egyptian, Hindu, Galland, Polish, Greek peoples and many more.

What a wonderful allegory of the feminine power!

Giving life, nurturing eggs, foraging nectar and pollen, receiving food, building new comb, then cooling the combs, defending the colony – each member of the hive gets busy doing her job to maintain their home alive.

What an example, they are, of the reach of collective work. Of being an implacable team, committed, coordinated, determined to survive.

Api, our 12th collection is inspired by bees, their fascinating social structure and the many ways in which they foster life. Pointy shapes and dark obsidian are reminiscent of the bee’s stingers while their striped tails are translated into coils – our ever-present symbol of the spiral. We have created modular and flexible pieces inspired by their bodies, and others whose dripping form brings to mind the looks of honey being poured. All our jewels are made of recycled sterling silver, sometimes with a 24k gold vermeil or accompanied by semi-precious stones. This time, we feature lapis lazuli, which, like honey, is said to promote self-expression and communication, and cornalina, which along with the ling ling-o symbol, are present to celebrate the unparalleled fertility of the wonderful Queen Bee.

With Collection no.12, we invite you to showcase your feminine power and feel how it is enhanced when you participate in the collective work of a community. Join us in celebrating your kin and the teams of which you are part and in calling for abundance, strength and fertility!