A maker’s mark inspired by culture
Elegant and graceful, unique and eye-catching, the work of Kamilaroi and Dunghutti jeweller Ebony Birks is changing the narrative of the jewellery industry.
The 23-year-old, Meanjin/Brisbane-based jeweller handcrafts gold and silver rings, earrings and necklaces from her home studio.
A young creative, Birks said she just happened to “fall into” creating jewellery. Not long after leaving high school, she had the opportunity to become a jewellery intern.
In 2019, she quit her job as a real estate agent, started working part time and building her jewellery brand.
“Then we got into 2020, COVID happened, and I lost all my part time jobs,” she said.
“I was sitting around at home and had nothing to do like everyone else. I just decided to spend all my money, all my savings and started buying all the tools.
“I launched my business in February 2020. It was always the plan to have my own jewellery business. But COVID really fast tracked that, and thankfully it’s being going really well.”
With EB Jewellery, Birks incorporates shapes and stones, drawing upon her culture and her connection to Country to create her unique, refined style.
“It wasn’t until after I created my first collection I realised there was cultural expression in my pieces. There’s a lot of line work that reflects my culture,” she said.
“I was kind of flying blind when I first started creating, but it was really nice to draw that connection … I’m inspired by nature and apply it in an abstract way. Which is my way of connection to Country.
“I’m always finding my style as well as connecting with my culture, which has been really
heart-warming — it gives that sense of identity.”
Jewellery forces Birks to stand still, pause and focus on her creation.
“I think it’s why I love jewellery so much, when you’re actually creating a piece, you’re forced to be present. You can’t really let your mind wander,” she said.
“I’m just feeling a bit agitated, I might struggle to start creating. But once I’m in it, I forget what I was worried about.”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by E B JEWELLERY (@ebjewellery_)
EB Jewellery provides products through both ready-to-buy collections and commission pieces.
“I really enjoy working with clients to create a special piece for them,” she said.
“It’s really reassuring that clients say, ‘This is what I want, but I want your touch as well because I like what you do.’ I love having that intimate process with the client and being given that trust.”
On average, commission pieces take Birks up to a month to create, whilst collection pieces take around a week. All pieces are made-to-order so there is no dead stock, which reflects Birks’ environmental awareness.
“I’ve always been a bit of a green thumb. I’ve always been quite passionate about the environment. So, for me to find my passion and be able to apply sustainability to my practice is really great,” she said.
“I love that I can spend time creating something really special for someone without having too much of an impact on the environment as well.”
Finding her feet as a business during COVID-19, Birks says social media has been a big influence on the EB Jewellery brand.
“Social media, that’s been a really great way for me to express myself and find my aesthetic,” Birks said.
“When I launched my business, I didn’t have a social media background, or a marketing background. I just started creating, taking photos and posting.
“It’s also been a bit of a confidence booster and reassurance that people are seeing my stuff and they’re liking what I’m creating, and posting as well.”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by E B JEWELLERY (@ebjewellery_)
Whilst finding support through social media, Birks also takes time to step back and ensure that her business reflects her at its core.
“With that said, I do think … you can get sucked into getting validation out of likes and followers,” she said.
“I’ve also had to take a step away from it, because I think I was losing inspiration and losing track of being authentic.
“I’ve always been really scared of that happening. So, taking time away has allowed me to reconnect with myself and my creative side … it’s just about finding that balance.”
With 2022 on the horizon, Birks has dreams to relocate to Naarm/Melbourne and continue making her mark on the jewellery industry.
“For me, it’s always been really important that I continue to always love my passion,” she said.
“I don’t ever want to be a massive brand … I just want to continue building on my skills and I know my practice reflects where I am and who I am at that time.”
By Rachael Knowles
Final suspect in brazen 2014 Birks robbery in Saskatoon awaits bail hearing later this week
The final suspect in a daring 2014 jewelry heist in Saskatoon is in custody pending a bail hearing later this week.
Police in Montreal arrested Pierre Louis Hernandes, 37, in the last week of July and then shipped him back to Saskatoon.
He appeared in provincial court Friday charged with robbery, having his face masked with intent to commit an indictable offence, breach of probation and conspiracy to commit arson.
His bail hearing is scheduled for Friday in Saskatoon.
The police description of the robbery on Feb. 1, 2014, read like a script from a Hollywood heist movie.
Around 10 a.m. CST on a weekday, four men walked into the downtown Birks Saskatoon store wearing disguises, carrying duffel bags and waving crowbars.
They began smashing display cases and, in less than a minute, left with $500,000 worth of luxury watches and jewelry. Neither of the two staff were injured.
The robbery was captured on the store’s security cameras.
Pierre Hernandes evaded police for seven years. (Saskatoon Police Service)
A burned-out van was found 90 minutes after the robbery in the area of Bottomley Avenue and Osler Street. Police confirmed the van was the getaway vehicle.
Officers executed a search warrant at an apartment on the east side, where they found some of the clothing the suspects wore during the robbery.
A second video, obtained from the building where the apartment was searched, showed a man police say is Ahmed-Farah, along with other men that police believe are the other suspects in the robbery.
Police were able to identify and arrest three of the suspects in the following months and years.
Charges were stayed against one of the suspects. Two of the other men were eventually sentenced to 3.5 and four years in prison.
Quebec man charged in 2014 robbery of Saskatoon’s Birks jewelry store
On Feb. 1, 2014, four men stormed into Birks on Third Avenue South, brandishing crowbars and causing extensive damage to the business before stealing a large quantity of jewellery.
More than seven years after an armed robbery of a Saskatoon jewellery store, a 37-year-old Quebec man has been charged in connection with the incident.
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Around 10 a.m. on Feb. 1, 2014, four men stormed into Birks on Third Avenue South, brandishing crowbars and causing extensive damage to the business before stealing a large quantity of jewellery.
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In an ensuing trial for one of the accused, court heard that it took a little more than one minute for the men to steal $500,000 worth of goods and cause $200,000 worth of damage to the store before fleeing the scene in a 1998 Dodge Caravan. The vehicle was later found burning near Osler Street and Bottomley Avenue.
Canada-wide warrants were issued and three men were later arrested, according to police. Two men were found guilty in connection with the incident, while charges against a third were stayed.
Saskatoon police on Friday said the fourth suspect was located earlier this week by Montreal police and transported back to Saskatoon.
Pierre Hernandez, 37, is facing charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit arson, breach of probation and having his face masked with intent to commit an indictable offence. He was scheduled to appear Friday in Saskatoon provincial court.
According to police, investigators believe a fifth person was involved but have not been able to identify the person.
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