During Paris Fashion Week, Nigerian fine jewellery maison AKANO unveiled its latest high jewellery collection, Omenala, during an intimate cocktail showcase held at The Peninsula Paris. The unveiling was presented in collaboration with Vogue100 and luxury chauffeur service Wheely, and brought together a curated group of guests from across fashion, media, and culture, signalling a significant milestone for the brand on the global haute joaillerie stage.
Hosted within the Rotunda of The Peninsula Paris, the unveiling reflected a refined and immersive experience. Guests arrived for a private viewing of the collection, accompanied by a live harp performance from Jehanne Drai. The showcase concluded with an exclusive opportunity to engage directly with the pieces and their creator in a personal setting.
Omenala, meaning “heritage,” explores legacy through jewellery as a living and evolving narrative. The collection draws inspiration from Igbo cosmology and more broadly from West African symbolism. These inspirations are reflected in the bold and architectural structure of the pieces as well as the quality of stones used, from high-carat diamonds to rare gemstones.
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“These pieces are about continuity,” said Akunna Nwala-Akano, Founder and Creative Director of AKANO. “Heritage is not static—it evolves with us. With Omenala, I wanted to create a body of work that honours where we come from while imagining what legacy looks like in the future. These jewels are not simply adornments; they are vessels of memory, identity, and possibility.”
Nwala-Akano is a Nigerian jeweller, entrepreneur, and creative director whose multidisciplinary background informs her unique perspective. With prior experience in law, corporate leadership, and the beauty industry, she brings a rare combination of precision, strategic thinking, and artistic vision to her work. Inspired by a lifelong connection to jewellery first sparked by a formative gift from her grandmother, Nwala-Akano created the first AKANO piece in 2020. Since then, her work has been widely recognized for its cultural depth and design integrity. She was named Female Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2024 Global Entrepreneurs Awards and Changemaker of the Year at the 2023 Industry Women Conference.
Founded with a vision to redefine luxury through an African lens, AKANO has quickly emerged as a rising name in fine jewellery. The brand is distinguished by its sculptural approach, meticulous craftsmanship, and commitment to cultural authorship. Drawing from African heritage while embracing global design sensibilities, AKANO creates pieces that are both timeless and forward-looking, appealing to collectors and connoisseurs seeking depth, rarity, and intentionality.
AKANO’s pieces, and especially the Omenala collection, are designed to be worn and passed down through generations. The collection reflects a dialogue between ancestral inspiration and contemporary design, positioning jewelry not just as ornamentation, but as storytelling. The vision was to create objects that hold meaning and memory.
Since its inception, AKANO has garnered international recognition, with features in publications such as The New York Times, JCK Magazine, Robb Report Africa, and Wallpaper*. The brand has been celebrated for introducing a distinct design language rooted in African history, characterized by the use of high-carat gemstones, refined detailing, and a quiet sense of exclusivity. Through AKANO and collections like Omenala, Nwala-Akano continues to shape a distinct narrative for African luxury, one that is rooted in heritage while remaining open to evolution.
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