Yuwana began with two sisters, long before it became a brand. It started with the way we grew up in Botswana, surrounded by wide open landscapes, rich colors, and a culture that taught us the importance of warmth, creativity, and a deep connection with both people and nature. With African roots and Chinese heritage, we have always lived between cultures, and that blend continues to shape the way we see beauty today.
Creating has always been part of who we are. We have always loved making things by hand, experimenting with ideas, and allowing stories to take shape through design. Jewelry became our way of expressing culture, art, and memories in a way that feels both personal and lasting.
Yuwana is deeply personal to us, but it’s not just about our story. It’s about yours. It’s about the everyday moments, the little and big milestones, and everything in between. We design each piece to feel effortless, meaningful, and made to move with your life.
Yuwana offers a Silver Collection alongside a bespoke, custom-made jewelry service. While we continue to provide both, our current focus is on growing and expanding the Silver Collection.
Yuwana is rooted in both African and Chinese heritage. How have those two cultures shaped the brand’s perspective on beauty and design?
Being raised in a bicultural environment has given us the opportunity to appreciate different expressions of beauty and design, and both our African and Chinese heritage continue to influence Yuwana in different ways.
Our African heritage has inspired us to explore African aesthetics, particularly the rich use of prints, patterns, landscapes, and wildlife. These influences can be seen throughout our designs. For example, our piece “Bontle” captures a snapshot of a herd of elephants. The intention was to bring that still moment to life by creating depth within the design, allowing natural light to interact with the piece and reveal its details from different angles.
Our Chinese heritage has shaped our appreciation for form, balance, and structure. Many of our designs draw inspiration from the architectural styles of China’s imperial eras, expressed through clean geometric forms. Some of these pieces can even be displayed as small sculptural objects, allowing them to be appreciated as works of art as well as jewelry.
Overall, our collections blend African aesthetics with a contemporary design look. We also incorporate meaningful symbols, such as the sun, expressing them in both realistic and abstract forms to create pieces that feel engaging and reflect our cultural influences.
How does building Yuwana together as sisters influence the creative process? How does the brand balance different creative perspectives while maintaining a cohesive vision?
Building Yuwana together as sisters means we communicate constantly. We have moments where we agree and moments where we disagree, but those discussions are often where our best ideas come from. Challenging each other’s perspectives pushes us to think more deeply and refine our designs until we are both happy with the outcome.
We both contribute to the creative process, but in different ways. Yuan enjoys working through hand sketches and drawings, while Queena focuses more on the digital side of the design process, although we are both involved throughout. Rather than trying to balance our perspectives in a structured way, we trust our instincts and allow the creative process to unfold naturally. In the end, our shared vision and values always bring us back to the same place.
What kinds of stories is Yuwana hoping people will tell through its jewelry?
The Yuwana Silver Collection is about more than how it looks. It is about the people who wear it and the stories they bring to it. We designed these gender neutral pieces for anyone who sees jewelry as a form of self-expression and who appreciates thoughtful design and quality lifestyle practices.
We do not believe jewelry should define who someone is. Instead, we hope it becomes part of their personal story. A piece might mark a milestone, remind someone of where they come from, or become something they reach for every day because it feels like a natural extension of themselves. That is what gives it meaning.
Ultimately, we hope every Yuwana piece becomes something that grows with its wearer. As it becomes part of their everyday life, it also becomes part of their memories, and that is the story we hope our jewelry helps to tell.
Are there particular colors, textures, or memories from Botswana that consistently appear throughout the collections?
You will not necessarily see Botswana reflected through colors or textures in every collection, but you will notice recurring patterns and symbols that are inspired by its natural beauty. Elements such as the sun, the kudu, and elephants appear throughout our designs, each carrying its own meaning.
One element we especially enjoy working with is the sun. To us, it is the source of all life. It represents energy that sustains, warmth that nurtures, and a sense of hope and positivity, something we feel is especially important in today’s world. Across our collections, the sun is interpreted in different ways, from realistic representations to more abstract forms, allowing each design to tell its own story while remaining connected to the same inspiration.
What has working alongside Elephant Havens taught Yuwana about community, resilience, or stewardship?
Working alongside Elephant Havens has reminded us of the importance of protecting and giving back to the community and environment that shaped us. As a local conservation organization, Elephant Havens provides care for young orphaned elephants, improves their living conditions, and helps protect them from poaching. Having grown up in Botswana, supporting their work feels deeply meaningful to us because it is a way of honoring our roots and contributing to something bigger than ourselves.
It has also reinforced the values that guide us as a brand. Building Yuwana has come with its share of challenges, but working together as sisters means we always have someone to lean on. We bring different perspectives, solve problems together, and stay flexible so we can find the best outcome for both our clients and ourselves.
Above all, we have learned that resilience is often about perspective. Challenges are inevitable, but we believe that approaching them with a positive mindset allows us to adapt, keep moving forward, and continue growing. Those are values we carry with us in both our business and our partnership with Elephant Havens.
Sustainability at Yuwana extends beyond materials. How does the brand define responsible luxury?
At Yuwana, responsible luxury means creating pieces that are thoughtfully designed, made to last, and produced with care for both people and the environment. We believe luxury is not only about the finished piece, but also about the choices made throughout its journey.
We use recycled sterling silver sourced from previously used jewelry and components recovered from technology such as cameras and mobile phones. The silver is refined, melted down, and recast to create new, high-quality pieces without compromising on craftsmanship or durability. Our pearls are also ethically sourced. We work with a family business that has specialized exclusively in pearls for more than two generations, and we value the trust, knowledge, and craftsmanship they bring to every piece.
We also believe that every detail matters, including how our jewelry is presented. Instead of using traditional packaging bags, we chose more sustainable alternatives. Our jewelry is carefully packaged in molded pulp boxes with a protective pouch to keep each piece safe. We also designed reusable canvas handbags that can be carried long after the jewelry has been unwrapped, whether for everyday essentials or as a small handbag. By creating packaging with a purpose beyond a single use, we hope to reduce waste while offering something our customers can continue to enjoy.
Are there traditions or values that continue to shape Yuwana’s creative direction?
Yes. One value that continues to guide our creative direction is designing jewelry that people genuinely enjoy wearing. We want every piece to be beautiful, but also comfortable and practical for everyday wear. When working with silver, we carefully consider factors such as weight, balance, and durability, because we believe these details are just as important as the design itself.
Another important influence is our African heritage. There are so many beautiful art forms, symbols, and interesting elements that deserve to be appreciated beyond the familiar prints and patterns. Through Yuwana, we hope to continue exploring these influences in different ways. Our goal is not only to create beautiful jewelry, but also to share a different perspective of African culture and inspire people to discover its richness and diversity.
If a Yuwana piece were passed down through generations, what would you hope it carried with it besides its craftsmanship?
We hope it carries the stories of the person who wore it. Every scratch, every mark, and every memory becomes part of the piece’s journey, giving it a meaning that goes far beyond its craftsmanship.
We also hope it carries a sense of connection. Not only to the person who wore it before, but also to the values they held, the experiences they lived, and the memories they created. Over time, those stories become just as valuable as the craftsmanship itself.