Ten Years Of Sparkle (Win!)

If you’re looking for a bit of sparkle in your life, keep reading. Olive & Piper, a women-led and woman-founded brand from Vancouver, creates jewelry that can be a part of life’s best moments—big or small. Now, Olive & Piper is marking a big milestone: 10 years in business! To celebrate, they’ve launched a 10 Year Anniversary Collection that features 10 of their bestsellers in a mini-size; all the luxe gems, luminous pearls, and best-selling styles in a small, polished package. We chatted with founder Tania Yan to learn more. —Noa Nichol

Hi Tania! Please tell us a bit about yourself to start.

I was born and raised in Vancouver to Chinese immigrant parents. I have a background in cell biology and genetics, which I didn’t end up using (but I don’t regret it). I have a cute dog named Ollie that I named after Olive & Piper. Lots of strangers have come up to me to tell me he looks really soft. I spend most of my time working, but when I’m not, I love trying new restaurants and going for foot massages. This year, I’ve been trying to mindfully disconnect more and go somewhere once a month (even if it’s just an hour away); Kitoki Inn on Bowen Island, RVing in Whistler and Hawaii have been my favourites.

When and why did you launch Olive & Piper? What niche were/are you aiming to fill?

I started Olive & Piper in 2012. To be completely honest, I wasn’t trying to fill a niche or become the next big … anything. I had some work experience in e-commerce and became really interested in what it would be like to start an online business, from product curation and pricing to website design, creating policies and marketing. Over time through trial and error, we found our place in the jewelry market. 

What products do you currently offer, and what makes them unique?

We focus heavily on designing earrings, bracelets and necklaces that can be worn across many occasions, from season-to-season. All of our jewelry is designed by us, which I’m really proud of! We’ve developed a signature look that blends timeless styles with modern silhouettes that’s starting to become recognized. We hope that we can bring a little joy to everyone each time they wear our pieces.

What do you love most about jewelry? How can we use jewelry to enhance our daily fits, our special occasion wear and, dare we say, our happiness?

I love how jewelry can easily create and make your look. Wear the same fit, change your jewelry, and you’re expressing yourself in a different way. On the flip side, you can wear different outfits with the same jewelry and get that polished and confident feeling each time. Wearing jewelry is intentional—you don’t have to wear it, but you choose to because it does a little something for you. It’s also a small and fun and easy way to treat yourself. 

What do you see as being the current predominant trends in jewelry, and are there pieces in your collection that speak to these?

What’s popular right now leans towards metal, everyday pieces—think delicate necklaces, dainty earrings, gold hoops and permanent bracelets. We personally love and appreciate wearing these styles, but we choose to stick to what we’re good at and what our customers come to us for. There has been a shift towards bigger statement pieces lately which is really exciting – this is the style of jewelry we started with, and it’s nice to see it coming back. Personally, I love a pair of bold, head-turning statement earrings. 

Top tips to help our jewelry last longer (i.e., prevent tarnishing, breakage, etc.)?

Jewelry care is really important! For our pieces, we recommended avoiding liquids, lotions, and showering in them. When you’re not wearing them, store them in their pouches. I find that being mindful of what you’re doing in your jewelry and taking your pieces off before sleeping can help with breakage and keep them shining longer. If you’re wearing fine jewelry, I think they require less care – but that doesn’t mean they won’t get dull or scratched up if you’re not treating them with care. We carry this spray called Tarnish-Me-Not that’s great for keeping jewelry lasting longer, and protecting skin from metal sensitives for those who might have allergies. 

Congrats on 10 years! Can you tell us more about the celebratory collection?

For our 10th anniversary we’re celebrating with 10 of our most loved styles over the years, in a mini! Although they’re mini (and cute), they’re no less stunning and just as luxe. We wouldn’t be here without all of you, so thank you for your love and support, whether you’re new to our brand or a longtime fan.

Ahead of the holidays, can you give us some jewelry gifting suggestions?

Gifting jewelry might seem tough especially with so many options available, but there are some tried and true best sellers that are always our go-to’s for gifts. Try one of these: Pearl Pave Studs, Porter Studs, Harper Huggie Hoops, Prado Drops, Essie Pendant, Mini Chloe Bracelet. If you still can’t decide, try our jewelry case or get in touch with us—we love helping! 

oliveandpiper.com

Win! A $158 Olive & Piper Prize Pack!

Congrats Lizzy C. of Edmonton, AB, who will receive a $158 Olive & Piper Prize Pack including:

• Round jewelry case – $50 (metallic taupe)
• Bordeaux Studs – $60 (winner can choose gold or silver plating)
• Essie Pendant – $48 (winner can choose gold or silver plating)

Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadaily.ca. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.