A family brand, full of meaning and inspired by nature
Words: Maria Martinho
Inspired by the city, the landscape and the human relationships that inhabit it, Gabriel Ribeiro has created a jewellery brand that celebrates nature, materials, and craftsmanship.
www.gabrielribeirojewelry.com
We can’t talk about a brand without telling the story of the man who created it and who, 20 years later, is still bringing it to life. Gabriel Ribeiro was born in Luanda, Angola, but moved to Portugal when he was 9, and soon discovered his passion for art. He began studying painting and drawing in Canada. On his return to Portugal, he completed a course in fine arts at the Soares dos Reis Art School in Porto, after which he started working as a jewellery designer for various brands. In 1999, he held his first exhibition of designer jewellery at the Galeria Municipal de Matosinhos, and in 2001 he graduated with a degree in jewellery from the Escola Superior de Artes e Design in Matosinhos. Three years later, he launched his own eponymous brand.
He explains: “The idea of creating a brand grew naturally as the number of collections and ideas multiplied and were presented in solo and group exhibitions, at events and in shops that began to believe in my designer jewellery”.
His work has always followed a different path from traditional Portuguese jewellery, with concepts, shapes, and details that set it apart from anything else produced in 2004. Each Gabriel Ribeiro piece has a story and an identity, and is considered a true work of art, designed to be worn every day and to be easily recognisable to the naked eye.
“The urban world is the main source of my inspiration. This imaginary includes the history of Porto, its landscapes and, above all, the people who live, travel and work there. For me, cities are not just physical places: they are the way each person relates to the space, nature and all the materials. With my art, I try to explore the experiences, culture, nature and sense of belonging that we all have in order to create emotional pieces that are full of meaning and purpose”.
Freedom, intuition and innovation are the ingredients of Gabriel Ribeiro’s creative process, a work that balances craft techniques and imagination in the creation of original pieces, without conceptual limits and designed for different audiences. Based on sketches, materials such as bronze, silver, wood, tiles, sea pebbles and natural stones are used in earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, brooches and cufflinks, and created as one-off unique items or in limited editions.
Gabriel Ribeiro currently has five collections that reflect the spirit of his brand and celebrate a commitment to tradition, environmental responsibility and the most irreverent and disruptive designs. Each collection has a distinct concept: Imagination explores creative freedom without limits, with bolder and more artistic pieces; Essence captures the essence of simplicity and elegance, with minimalist and timeless designs; Adamastor is inspired by myths and legends, with pieces that evoke strength and mystery; Naturally celebrates the beauty of nature, with organic shapes and materials reminiscent of the natural world; and Organic follows a line of fluid design, where shapes blend harmoniously with the human body.
Gabriel Ribeiro continues with the second generation of the Ribeiro family. Today it is his daughter Joana who brings a more contemporary, international, technological and digital approach to the brand. “Over time, we felt it was important to keep up with the new dynamics of the market, and the launch of the website and online shop was a response to this demand. The aim is to facilitate access to our collections, regardless of the customer’s geographical location, while maintaining the quality, exclusivity and uniqueness that define us”, says Joana.
The brand’s future consists of firm, solid and sustainable steps towards a signature in the world of jewellery that will endure and which will always have a story to tell.
