Pamela Card, a jewelry designer based in Railtown, embraces imperfection. Traveling worldwide, she draws inspiration from ancient European artifacts, fascinated by their rich history. “Their jewelry isn’t perfect because it was all done by hand, and some of it was lost underground for many years—it’s lived a long life,” she says.
Card is not attracted to the flawless, modern designs typical of contemporary jewelry. Instead, she looks to the art of historic empires like Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and Byzantine. Using lost-wax casting, she creates pieces with a molten, heirloom-like appearance. “I like to make the jewelry look like it’s been broken, buried, and excavated,” she explains. During her travels, she takes film photos and notes, then returns to her Vancouver studio to craft handmade, wearable art. A view from the Amalfi Coast inspired a necklace with textured links in the shape of the infinity symbol, while Italy’s glamorous ’50s era influenced a set of elegant, asymmetrical earrings.
This summer, Card is launching a new collection inspired by Greece. Look for subtle references to ancient deities, mythology, talismans, and iconic structures like the Parthenon. She has developed a distinctive style, aiming for her designs to be instantly recognizable. “I want my designs to be very unique and specific to the brand—I want people to see it and say, ‘Oh, is that Pamela Card jewelry?’”