Briyana Rainer, Ampadu Studios

I am a jewelry and experience designer based in Brooklyn, NY. I am currently a Masters of Arts Candidate in Exhibition and Experience Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology with a passion for creating culture based art activations and curatorial content. I explore jewelry design as lens for exploring representation, form, and symbolism. I have worked with various small jewelry brands in creating designs. Though my own explorations, I developed ways to combine my architectural background and aesthetic interests into my jewelry making practice that focuses on adorning black hair. At Ampadu Studios we focus on embellishing the natural beauty of afro-textured hair while promoting its diversity in hairstyling and culture. We design fine hair jewelry for the everyday and the eclectic. Our studio is a response to the lack of quality and authenticity surrounding the ornamentation of our hair. The pieces we have grown accustomed to in our communities are often disposable and mass produced from unknown origins. We strive to create high-quality, innovative, and fashion-forward pieces that are designed with your crown in mind.