Sita Abellan finds beauty and inspiration in the reptilian.
This Celebrity-Approved Jewelry Designer Is Obsessed With Snakes
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If you’re ophidiophobic, you may want to look away. Lilith by Sita is a new jewelry brand that finds beauty and inspiration in snakes. The label’s statement earrings, belts, and necklaces all feature the slithery reptiles on them and have been worn by Billie Eilish, Kim Kardashian, and Rosalía.
The brand was founded in 2018 by Sita Abellan, a Spanish DJ, model, and stylist turned designer based in Barcelona. (Fun fact: She has a casual cameo in Rihanna’s “Bitch Better Have My Money” music video.) Abellan saw designing as an organic extension of the styling work she was doing, primarily for Colombian musician J Balvin. “I have always loved fashion and expressing myself through it, and styling inspired me to draw and design new pieces,” says Abellan.
Why an obsession with snakes, though? She’s drawn not only to their striking aesthetic but also the deeper meaning behind the reptiles. “I feel a connection with [snakes], and I like what snakes represent,” says Abellan. In the Bible, snakes represent both good and evil; the designer enjoys that duality.
Her black brass snake hoop earrings have become a signature style, worn by Rosalía and Eilish. “I feel grateful my designs are worn by queens,” says Abellan. Most of her accessories are made using brass or gold plating. “They are all made in a factory in Milan by artisans who have been doing this for more than 20 years,” she explains. That doesn’t mean she’s satisfied with the status quo, though. She is also looking into making her designs out of precious materials and exploring more sustainable ways of creating. “We are starting to work with a new material called recycled Zama, which is a brass made of recycled materials,” notes Abellan.
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Abellan isn’t just fixated on snakes, however. “I am very inspired by the work of Dalí, magical realism, and the tarot,” says Abellan. “I’m an instinctual person—I don’t overthink it. When something fascinates me, I start to research and dig into it.” Some of her earrings and belts feature moons and suns, while her necklaces can be made of shells or pop tabs and padlocks. Kardashian recently wore Abellan’s sleek metal choker, one of her more nondescript pieces.
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While she will forever be fascinated with snakes, Aballan says she plans to continue venturing out with more new ideas in the future. “I am planning a few collaborations for the next [few] months with some brands,” she notes. “Up until now, I have been exploring only accessories, but we are aiming to launch clothes and shoes soon.” Perhaps a chameleon collection next?
This story originally appeared on: Vogue - Author:Christian Allaire
