ZANNI NYC
Zanni NYC: Jewelry with Feeling, Edge and Expression
There is something refreshingly direct about Zanni NYC. The New York–based brand approaches fine jewellery not as something distant or overly precious, but as a living form of self expression. Emotional, playful and sometimes provocative, each piece is designed to communicate something personal. Jewellery becomes language. Jewellery becomes feeling.
Founded by second generation designer Alexzandria, known as Zanni, the brand grew from a lifelong connection to making. Raised in Southern California by a bench jeweller father, she developed an early understanding of craft before moving to New York City to study Art History at the Fashion Institute of Technology. After nearly a decade working in production, development and design for leading contemporary jewellery houses including Pamela Love, Anna Sheffield and AGMES, she launched her own label to explore a more independent vision.
That vision is grounded in the belief that fine jewellery does not have to be so serious. It can carry humour, contradiction and attitude while still holding value and meaning. Produced exclusively in New York City, Zanni’s work prioritises ethically sourced and recycled materials, local production and bold design, balancing sustainability with a distinctly expressive aesthetic.
Drawing inspiration from art history, tattoo culture, 1990s costume jewellery and the disruptive energy of designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Lee Alexander McQueen, Zanni’s work sits at the intersection of craft, culture and personal storytelling. Her pieces feel immediate and emotionally charged, yet grounded in strong technical knowledge and responsible production.
At the centre of her practice is the Mood Collection, a series of rings and necklaces that explore the full spectrum of human emotion. Crafted in 14k gold and designed to be endlessly customisable, each piece acts as a wearable reflection of feeling. Hand engraved surfaces and symbolic details introduce a narrative quality, from pear shaped white diamond teardrops that suggest vulnerability or release to ruby set mouths that evoke voice, desire and defiance. These pieces move beyond decoration, offering a way for the wearer to communicate something internal through material and form.
This focus on personal expression continues through the Pierced Collection, where identity becomes even more explicit. Customisable 14k gold necklaces feature lab grown diamonds shaped into letters and symbols, each stone laser pierced to hang delicately from the chain. Whether choosing initials, meaningful symbols or even provocative words, the wearer participates directly in the design. The collection draws on influences from tattoo culture, 1990s costume jewellery and fashion subcultures, positioning jewellery as an extension of personality rather than a static object.
Zanni’s playful tension between beauty and rebellion is perhaps most visible in the brand’s best selling “F*ck Off” collection. Here, soft heart shapes and feminine script are paired with a bold engraved phrase, creating a striking contrast between sweetness and confrontation. The work challenges traditional expectations of precious jewellery, embracing humour and irreverence while maintaining a refined material presence.
Alongside these expressive collections, sustainability remains central to the brand’s identity. The Debris Collection reimagines the value of precious materials by repurposing broken and overlooked diamonds sourced from discarded vintage jewellery, recycled suppliers and local jewellers. Chipped and intact stones are carefully combined into one of a kind rings and earrings, celebrating imperfection and giving new life to materials that might otherwise be lost. Each piece carries its own character, shaped by irregularity and history.
In a moment when contemporary jewellery increasingly reflects identity, ethics and individuality, Zanni NYC offers a compelling perspective. Her work invites the wearer not simply to adorn themselves, but to express, question and communicate. Jewellery, in her hands, becomes something alive.
