Stephanie Yeboah x Ottoman Hands *finally* addresses size inclusive jewellery
The ways in which the fashion industry is failing plus-size women have been largely documented over recent years, but one area that has neglected to be mentioned is jewellery. Be it necklaces designed to sit below your clavicle ending up as chokers, bracelets that simply won't fit around wrists and rings not budging past knuckles, it's an all too familiar experience for content creator and author of Fattily Ever After: A Black Fat Girl's Guide to Living Life Unapologetically, Stephanie Yeboah.
“It was always frustrating when there would be a really cool bracelet, but if it wasn't a bangle that you could open, it would just never fit my wrist,” she tells Cosmopolitan UK. So, when the chance to collaborate with British-based independent jewellery brand, Ottoman Hands, came up – a brand that was already championing inclusivity through their adjustable rings – she jumped at the chance.
“Having that element of inclusivity with the jewellery, in terms of the rings, necklaces and bangle sizes, I thought would be incredible. It would be great to be able to create a collection where everybody has a chance to wear beautiful jewellery. That really got me excited.”
The exclusive collection is a 26-piece edit of earrings, bracelets and adjustable necklaces and rings that embraces individuals of all shapes and sizes and ensures a comfortable fit for all. Designed to work as well on their own as they do worn stacked and layered together (Stephanie's personal preference), the pieces are hand-crafted in 18ct gold-plated recycled brass with certain items featuring semi-precious gemstones including green onyx, tiger’s eye, mother of pearl and malachite.
Shop Stephanie Yeboah x Ottoman Hands
As well as championing Stephanie's passion for inclusivity and sustainability, the collection is inspired by her Ghanaian heritage with a special focus on Adinkra symbols, each of which carries its own unique meaning, proverb, and philosophy. A fitting tribute to a key part of her identity, especially as her earliest memories with jewellery are intertwined with Ghanaian tradition.
“I remember having my first gold bangle as a four or five-year-old. It's something that is so culturally heavy in a lot of African cultures, when you're a child you get your first solid gold bangle. I would wear it everywhere, I wouldn't even take it off to shower, it was so beautiful.”
With such a clear vision for the collection and despite considering herself a terrible artist, Stephanie drew out each of the designs by hand, meeting the team with sheets of paper covered in her scribbles. “[The pieces] might be a bit wonky in some areas. There's not a perfect five-point star, it's all very raw and very natural, but it makes the collection really beautiful that it's not perfect. And I think with the messages that I convey surrounding body image and not having to be perfect, it kind of fits perfectly.”
From Stephanie's favourite Adinkrahene Malachite Necklace, a showstopping piece consisting of a string of engraved discs with a vibrant green gemstone at each centre, to more simple, delicate pieces like the Adwoa Mother of Pearl Pendant Necklace (named in honour of her own mother) that can be worn as part of a set with the coordinating ring and stud earrings, there really is something for everyone.
“She had the same issue as me, she never really wore jewellery because she couldn't find jewellery to fit her hands so I would love to see my mother wearing my jewellery,” Stephanie says. “I would love to see Ghanaians in the public eye wearing this jewellery too like Clara Amfo, and Stormzy would be amazing! Adjoa Andoh, she's Ghanaian and she plays Lady Danbury, it would be great if she could wear it in an episode of Bridgerton. That would just be chef's kiss.”
Stephanie Yeboah x Ottoman Hands is an incredible first step towards her main goal of one day having her own clothing collection that truly and unapologetically celebrates plus-size bodies. As for what the industry can do in the meantime to continue to bring about positive change?
“I think one of the big things that makes such a difference is the representation. One of the main things that really helped me on my body-positive journey was seeing people that looked like me in fashion campaigns and in beauty campaigns,” Stephanie says, something she believes is significantly lacking in jewellery imagery currently, pointing to the prominence of women with high cheekbones, angular faces, long necks and slender fingers over round faces and chubby hands.
“There's an assumption when it comes to jewellery... But there are people that have big fingers, like mine, or big wrists and thicker necks where a necklace might come up quite short. Hopefully, if brands see a huge range of different body shapes and sizes, they’ll start to think, ‘Let's cater to them.’”
Shop Stephanie Yeboah x Ottoman Hands
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