Canadian Olympic silver medallist and professional beach volleyball player Melissa Humaña-Paredes has partnered with Vancouver-based jewellery brand True Curated Designs to launch a limited-edition jewellery collection.
The collaboration explores themes of strength, beauty, and environmental awareness, inspired by the athlete’s personal interests and the brand’s design principles.
Origins of the Partnership
The collaboration began when Tori Dundas, founder of True Curated Designs, noticed Humaña-Paredes training for the Paris Olympics while wearing jewellery from her brand. The initial interaction led to a collaborative effort that resulted in the Sol collection.
Speaking about the collaboration, Humaña-Paredes explained the personal connection she feels to jewellery:
“During the Olympics, I’m particular about the energy I want to exude and surround myself in. I usually wear symbolic pendants through competitions — something that gives me that vote of confidence, that extra edge or bit of magic,” she shared.
Design Inspiration and Key Pieces
Humaña-Paredes drew on her experiences as a professional athlete and her personal values when designing the collection. She described jewellery as a way to express strength, femininity, and creativity, while holding sentimental value as a connection to the past.
She pointed to the Sol Pendant as her favourite piece, citing the spiral motif’s symbolism of circularity and connection:
“I have been drawn to the symbolism of the spiral lately. The meaning of circularity, how we’re all connected, to each other and the Earth.”
The designs draw inspiration from her connection to nature and her Chilean-Canadian heritage, resulting in a collection rooted in personal meaning and aligned with True Curated Designs’ emphasis on meaningful jewellery.
True Curated Designs and Collaborative Partnerships
True Curated Designs, a female-led small business, has developed a reputation for collaborative capsule collections with notable figures. Founder Tori Dundas has previously worked with Vancouver stylist Susie Wall and content creators Alicia Haque and Reese Wonge, among others. These collaborations allow the brand to incorporate diverse design influences and reach a wider audience.
The Sol collection follows this tradition, offering a range of pieces priced from $69 to $669 and is available for purchase on True Curated Designs’ website: truecurateddesigns.com.
