Meet Anna Monet | Founder & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anna Monet and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anna, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
The truth is that I love connecting with people. As an artist, I want to share a piece of beauty with anyone willing to embrace it. As a stylist, I always see opportunities in dressing to bring forward your most authentic self. I believe that it is a healing practice that can bring people closer to themselves and each other. I feel that clothing and accessories designed and produced with an intention have more of that healing quality. I chose creative life because I believe that observing and engaging with art has the ability to transform lives. Beauty is universal, and good sustainable design can impact our planet in very real ways. I think that every object produced today should remind us of our humanity, bring us closer and remind us that we have a responsibility to take care of our planet.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Central themes in my work are reclaimed horsehair and natural dyes. Horsehair is ethically gathered by the members of the Caddo Nation. I bind raw horsehair and dye it by hand with plants. I chose to do it because I want to shed light on the value of ancestral skills and eco-friendly design in the modern world.

Here at Anna Monet Jewelry, I place sustainability at the center of everything we do. Every day I choose to create a brand that is conscious of its ecological and human impact. I intentionally incorporate biodegradable materials used in ancient times, such as horsehair purchased from Native American traders, along with hand-mixed, all-natural dyes. My work is meant to explore innovative design that also celebrates traditional craft and the symbolism of our human connection to the earth.

Along the journey of building my business, I’ve learned that doing things more sustainably is never easy, but it is the only way forward and 100% worth the effort.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Rad House – soulful, modernized German food

Aux Delices – delicious family-owned Vietnamese restaurant

Saint Frank Coffee – best coffee. period

Amelie SF – classic French winebar

Ssal – Modern Korean

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am so grateful for this question! Some so many incredible people who inspired and taught me through the years, and I am excited to give shoutouts to a few of them.

First and foremost, a local San Francisco designer – Vanessa Gade. Vanessa was the first professional designer who employed me to help with her social media, a creator of original, contemporary jewelry with an architectural edge. I’ve learned so much from her in the process! Venessa taught me everything from the trade show business to her confidence in designing and forging her unique path.

Veena is a natural dyer that I met at Spirit Weavers, an amazing women’s gathering in Oregon. She taught me the basics of natural dyes and ignited my passion for them. My large community of women entrepreneurs I’ve had the pleasure to meet at the gathering continues to inspire and support me in many ways, including my continuing study of ancient skills.

Adam Clark of Scintillant Studios in San Francisco taught me everything I know about metalwork. He could be a professional jeweler, but instead, he chooses to run a school. I recommend him for a wedding ring workshop. He will lead you and your partner through the fun process of making a wedding ring of your design.

I could mention so many more, but for now, I want to acknowledge that I am so grateful to these people for everything they shared with me.

Website: https://www.annamonetjewelry.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annamonetjewelry/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-danilova-00362346/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annamonetjewelry

Image Credits
Short hair -yellow earrings – by Chrissy Lynn www.chrissylynn.photography.com Red Background photo – by – Aliona Kuznetsova https://alionakuznetsova.com/ Yellow and Blue Outfit photos – Vera Fedorova