Reinventing Timeless - An Interview with Fiona Morrison of Wolf Circus
Fiona Morrison — owner, and designer of the international jewelry brand Wolf Circus — creates timeless pieces for everyday wear. Her pieces are the new classic and that personal style is constant throughout every aspect of her life.
Wolf Circus. Left to Right: Model Denise Culbreth wears the Lola Earrings, $130, Marta Earrings, $170; Model Elle Kay Dawson wears Kaia Pearl Hoops, $85, Small Pearl Hoops, $85, Quinn Hoops, $89, Mona Necklace, $148, Biana Necklace in Gold, $160; Model E. Woodsy wears the Remy Earrings in Gold, $225.
Styled by Alyssa Sutter. Photographed by Hannah Faith Lord.
Now thirty-years-old, Morrison started her company in 2011 while earning a Bachelor of Commerce and Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Victoria. The self-made jewelry artisan started with YouTube tutorials and a consumer base of university friends and acquaintances, and now leads a team of 10 talented women and has a global presence. “I had a wolf-head ring that was often a conversation starter and received lots of compliments. With this ring as inspiration, and after noticing a gap for stylish and affordable handmade jewelry, I wanted to create a collection for the bold, the brainy, and the badass,” said Morrison. Wolf Circus jewelry has antique charm but is made modern by Morrison. It is as easy to imagine the gamut of today’s “It” girls, like Zoe Kravitz, Emily Ratajkowski, and Meghan Markle, adorning themselves with her chunky gold pieces and perfectly incongruent pearls. Wolf Circus pieces stand out in a crowd, but they are far from boastful.
The Estelle Necklace is the perfect example of a Wolf Circus’ portfolio. It is a modern take on the classic pearl necklace. The pearls pay homage to an ageless, beloved style of the past, but Morrison reinvented the style by using varying sizes and shapes of pearls, creating a modern masterpiece. Soon to be cult classics include the Emeile and Emeile Grande bands. “They sit next to each other so nicely that they look like one ring when worn together,” said Morrison. Stacking together the Abbie Hoops is the perfect accouterment for everyday wear. Like much of the jewelry across the brand the Abbie Hoops are versatile and not likely to ever go out of style. “Jewelry can carry emotional meaning, like the jewelry from my grandmother, did. With this idea in mind, I wanted to create pieces that can be worn every day but still feel special, as they become heirlooms for many generations,” heartened the designer.
Candice Ring in Gold, $185; Isa Ring in Gold, $198
Mona Necklace, $148; Biana Necklace in Gold, $160
Lola Earrings, $130; Marta Earrings, $170; Effy Necklace, $100
Morrison’s pieces are not your grandmother’s jewelry, but it is jewelry that you and your grandmother could share now. Not only is your grandmother going to want a piece of the action — your grandfather might too. The beauty of Wolf Circus is not just in the pieces, but what the brand stands for — diversity, inclusivity, and empowerment. “We believe diversity is what makes the world beautiful. With this in mind, we create pieces that aim to inspire people to embrace who they are with confidence. We work with people from a wide range of genders and races, and we believe jewelry is for everyone, so last year we launched a collection called Everybody with larger ring sizes and ‘unisex’ styles,” said Morrison. Wolf Circus is not for one, it is for all.
Ensuring that the products she shares with the world are sustainable is of paramount importance to the designer. “We live in a critical time where we all need to be responsible for where our planet is heading. Keeping this in mind throughout the design process, we source post-consumer recycled metals and use them in all our collections.” All the jewelry starts with low impact materials and is transformed into the attainable luxury products at Wolf Circus’ in-house studio in Vancouver. Additionally, every piece comes with a lifetime replating and repair policy to guarantee that the jewelry lasts as long as possible. “We create intending to be timeless, so you can wear our jewelry today and many years from now and still look amazing.”
Even though Wolf Circus jewelry is available around the world, Morrison’s vibrant community inspired her collections. “We are a small, multicultural team, who do their best to keep things local, which reflects Vancouver’s vibe. In-house production and working with local talents keep the brand’s spirit alive. We want people to be able to feel our sense of community when wearing our jewelry,” shared Morrison. Wolf Circus’ function-focused pieces are inspired by all of the beautiful landscapes and vibes of Vancouver. From the mountains to the oceans to the bustling city, there is a Wolf Circus piece for the occasion.
Austyn Ring, $185; Michelle Bracelet, $130; Lola Pearl Necklace, $198
Magda Pearl Ring, $198; Fera Ring, $198; Emeile Grande in Gold, $180; Emeile in Gold, $95
Clementine Earrings, $95; Austyn Ring, $185; Mila Necklace, $95
Morrison and her team are not letting the COVID-19 pandemic disrupt them. The e-commerce-based brand is continuing business as usual. “It has been a challenging time, but I can see the growth we’ve achieved as a team by making it work out,” said Morrison.
At Maison Morrison, she has found that the traditional means for finding peace and serenity are the key to surviving COVID-19. “When I’m not working, I love browsing for new decorative objects to bring into my apartment, cooking, and listening to good, old records,” said Morrison. For this jewelry artisan, the sources for these long-loved past times are local businesses. “Most stores are closed and supporting local is much needed, so I find myself and my friends buying second-hand decoration, furniture, clothes, and lifestyle objects from second-hand online platforms.” If nothing else, Morrison is always on brand and authentic. Remaining positive during these unprecedented times is helping the designer to stay fresh and creative. “Every day at home is a new opportunity to start fresh and create something new. Creativity seems to start flowing naturally when there are no external distractions or party plans out there,” said Morrison. However, in the rare instance that she finds herself stuck she enjoys exploring the many landscapes of Vancouver that inspire her art. “It is a whole new world every time; seeing the city without the traffic and much movement can be inspiring somehow.”
As the pandemic does not seem to be slowing Morrison down, bigger and better plans are on the horizon for Wolf Circus. “We are working on creating more real-life experiences, such as international pop-ups, events, and workshops like the ones we had last year in San Francisco and New York. We have a strong digital community and it’s amazing seeing it manifested physically at our events. We’d love to bring Wolf Circus to the main cities this year so stay tuned.”
Magnes Ring, $135; Candice Ring, $185
