our story
Obsessive about design and all things handcrafted, Chris and Fiona are focused on creating commitment bands of a different sort. After discovering that they had both made their husbands’ wedding bands, a question started forming: how can we create ring collections that offer a fresh take on men's commitment bands? The result was taking classic, timeless designs and infusing them with architecturally-inspired details and nods to industrial hardware and textured organic forms.
The Sanipelli Vasan Studio uses a combination of old world and cutting edge techniques including forging, wax carving, lost wax casting, and 3D modeling. As designers and jewelers, their commitment to flawless craft is the guiding principle. Each piece is hand fabricated using responsibly sourced materials and is available in a variety of metal choices.
THE DESIGNERS
Chris Vasan
Chris Vasan has been making jewelry and metal work for over 20 years. Early on she expanded her practice and created custom metal work for such institutions as the American Museum of Natural History, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Brooklyn Museum, before returning to jewelry. Handling precious artifacts at museums for so many years has influenced Chris' studio practice where she creates pieces inspired by her love of unusual organic forms, machinery and architecture.
A chance meeting with Fiona while collaborating on an art installation led to the idea of working on a jewelry project together. The synergy between Chris and Fiona’s design ideas was evident from the beginning, and it continues to evolve.
A former city dweller for almost 2 decades, Chris moved to Upstate New York a few years ago and currently works from her dream studio in Westchester County. When not working on the Sanipelli Vasan project, Chris makes jewelry under the name Christine Vasan. She lives with her husband, their son, and a feisty cat named Daisy.
Fiona Sanipelli
Fiona Sanipelli started making jewelry at a young age using found hardware and metal parts from her father’s workbench. Her interest in design of all scales later evolved into her academic pursuits and a career in interior design.
After studying architecture, Fiona designed restaurants for several years in Winnipeg, Canada before heading to New York City in 2010. Here she worked as an interior designer at AvroKO, a concept-driven hospitality design firm. It was here that she cultivated an appreciation for architectural details and the beauty of well-designed hardware.
Fiona met Chris through a professional collaboration and discovered their mutual passion for jewelry. She later studied at the Jewelry Arts Institute and continues to work on her own jewelry projects. Fiona also runs an interior design practice called Handwerk Art and Design with her husband Gregor. They share their Brooklyn studio with their two dogs, Silas and Leeloo.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WILLIAM MEBANE| WWW.WILLIAMMEBANE.COM
William Mebane is a Brooklyn based photographer who works on a wide range of fine art, editorial and commercial projects. His most recent book, Mental Hygiene, was published by Newest York this November, 2017.
Select photography done at Beauty & Essex and TOKEN NYC
Self Curate.