By Jacquie De Almeida
The yellow gold bracelet wedged partway up Hande Elmaagacli’s left arm is an eye-catcher not only for its deep, rich colour, but also for its handwoven construction.
A family heirloom, the 22-karat yellow gold piece was given to her six years ago by her mother on her wedding day. It’s the same one her mom received from her own mother when she walked down the aisle. And when Elmaagacli has a daughter of her own someday, it will be hers, too.
It’s a family tradition that dates back to 1915 when Elmaagacli’s great-grandfather bought a similar bracelet for his betrothed. It’s also at the heart of Haseer Heritage and the collection of handwoven bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces on display at Elmaagacli’s booth at CJExpos-Toronto, the second in the lineup of Canada’s jewellery trade shows. Retailers also stocked up on last-minute purchases at the Canadian Jewellery Group (CJG) show, CJ Expos-Edmonton, and Expo Prestige.
“Jewellery needs to have a story and ours goes back to our family roots,” Elmaagacli tells Jewellery Business. “We don’t just present this as a piece of jewellery, but as our family heritage and something to pass on from generation to generation.”
