Daniela Simoes is the designer and visionary storyteller behind Lapis and The Red Thread (Lapis). Drawn to the unseen threads that connect us to the world, she works with metal and tapestries of the imagination as her medium, handcrafting adornments that hold a storytelling essence.
Daniela describes her practice as “ancient and alchemical”. Her first encounter with metal unfolded in a street market in the south of Portugal: “I came across a man selling pieces he had made, and something about his work drew me in.” An inquiry into lessons led to a three-month foundational learning experience where she met the complexities of the making process. Equally challenging as intriguing, Daniela came to appreciate the patience and precision that this material calls for, and she fell in love with its resistant qualities. Each step required focus, immersing her presence into working slowly with her hands. “That experience opened a door for me,” she shares, and it had an important role in the development of her journey as a jeweller today.
A finished piece of Daniela’s jewellery starts as a soft, malleable wax carving, and then emerges as solid metal through a fiery, elemental process. It is this transformation at the heart of the craft that she is most passionate about, as well as the longevity of well-made adornments - how they endure tests of time, and live alongside someone for generations. In production, she values connection and authenticity over perfection, holding a love for fine imprints of human detail in her work: “The hand remains visible in every piece: the texture, the irregularity and small traces of the making. I want it to feel as though it has been unearthed.” This philosophy is really felt in her pieces which are bold and radiant, exuding an atmosphere that is simultaneously ancient and contemporary.
Cast into brass or silver, Lapis jewellery truly holds a unique energy, from its design to production process. Each piece and collection has a story behind it that interlinks into a larger world of symbol and connection. Daniela’s initial sparks of creative energy are ignited by the quiet arrival of a story - from here, a new world begins forming in her mind. Imagination, spirituality and personal themes converge becoming a whole concept - adornments belonging within it are created to express the story in a physical form. Time is an essential factor in the entire process, in terms of conceptualisation, design, and the layers of physical work that go into a finished piece. Each stage demands patience and the discipline of nurturing creative expression through all its motions.
Daniela is deeply shaped by her desire to create meaning, drawing from fragments of metaphysical experiences and giving them tangible form. An expression that is like an inquiry into what holds our world together through symbolism, ritual and the stories we carry through life. Whether making jewels or curating experiences, she is always weaving beauty and intention into everything she does.
From her perspective, adornment is a language - a means of communicating something about our essence that speaks volumes just by being noticed. Daniela resonates with the relationship people have had with adornment throughout history, particularly in ways that go beyond being decorative. Whether for ceremonial, cultural or personal reasons, there is an intrinsic relationship with what we wear being a representation of who we are. She seeks to rediscover and return to this age-old truth. “[Jewellery] can be a talisman, a reminder, a form of armour or a marker of becoming,” she shares. And her vision echoes this: a world where our possessions are full of meaning, made with intention, and bearing the treasured stories of many lifetimes.
Visit us on Windsor Road in Kalk Bay to explore Lapis and experience the radiance of Daniela’s pieces.
Find Dani on Instagram
Check out her website for more on Lapis
Images by Nicola Katie
Words by Boudica Collins
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