The Story Behind Speira: A Conversation with Christina, Founder & CEO

What made you start Speira?

I'm originally from Athens, one of Europe's most layered cities, where ancient history and everyday life exist side by side in a way you don't really find anywhere else. Growing up surrounded by thousands of years of mythology, archaeology and lived culture, you develop an eye for beauty almost without realising it. Finding art in Athens is effortless. It's simply everywhere.

Greece also has a very long tradition of jewellery-making. Some of the earliest known goldsmiths in the Western world worked in Greece. That heritage runs deep. It's in the craft, the motifs, the way makers approach their materials. 

When I moved to London in 2014, the energy of the city was exciting. The creativity, the diversity, the sense that anything could be built here, it made me want to create something of my own. I spent a long time searching for what that might be.

Then it struck me. What I was missing was something entirely specific: those familiar market stalls along the Greek coast, full of artists working on the spot. Handpainted ceramics, hammered metal, jewellery made right in front of you. Artists with genuine skill and real stories who so often never receive the recognition they deserve.

That was my calling. To build something that could connect the beauty of Greek handmade jewellery with the audience it deserved. A place where carefully chosen pieces could be offered to women who want jewellery that feels personal, not mass-produced, not trend-driven. Something made with intention and chosen with care.

So I built it myself. And that's exactly what Speira is.

Why the name Speira? What does it mean?

Speira is the Ancient Greek word for spiral. A symbol that appears throughout Hellenic culture in a very consistent way. You find it in Minoan architecture, in ancient metalwork, in embroidered garments, in labyrinth designs carved into stone. The spiral was seen as a symbol of life itself, of continuity and beginnings.

As the word suggests the origin of all things, so too does the brand. Speira is an homage to the very beginning of jewellery and metalsmithing in the Western and Mediterranean world. When I was choosing a name, it felt like the only one that could truly hold what I was trying to do.

What's the mission behind the brand?

At its simplest: to celebrate women, every day.

Not only on special occasions. Not only when there's something to mark. Every day, through the quiet confidence of wearing a piece you genuinely love, one that says something true about who you are.

I curate every piece in this collection with care, with the aim of offering women jewellery that feels personal and effortless. Pieces shaped by a love of simple elegance, meaningful detail, and craftsmanship that lasts.

Your tagline is 'State Your Personality', and the collections are organised by mood rather than product type. Can you explain that thinking?

I've always believed that the jewellery you choose says something about you in the same way that the clothes you wear say something about how you see yourself. Jewellery is a language. And like any language, it's deeply personal.

That's why Speira's collections aren't organised by product type or material. They're organised by personality. I've identified a set of archetypes: Timeless, Dramatic, Bohemian, Rock & Grunge, Contemporary, and Hellenic Harmony. Each of which reflects a distinct way of moving through the world, and a different aesthetic in the jewellery that belongs to it.

These archetypes also reflect something important about handmade pieces. When a jeweller works by hand, they bring their own sensibility to the craft. The result isn't neutral. A piece made by someone with a dramatic, architectural eye feels completely different from one made by someone drawn to delicate, organic forms. The mood is already in the work, I simply made it visible.

I could have taken the easy route: sourced trendy designs made in bulk and sold them at a margin. But that was never the point. In Greece, most beloved shops are small family-run businesses, rooted in craft and community support. 

So I went the hard way: I select every piece personally, from independent Greek artists, one at a time, and I bring a little of that Greece here to you.

What comes next for Speira?

Right now, my focus is on building the brand and getting the name out there. That work takes everything I have, and I'm proud of where it's going.

But looking ahead, I'd love to expand the circle of artists I work with. The makers I collaborate with now have grown a great deal over the years and are well respected within Greece's jewellery community. The next step would be to bring in new independent makers, including artists based here in the UK, who are carrying that same legacy of handcrafted, intentional work forward.