Colour, Culture and the Foundations of Oriah Nova

Growing up with Jamaican and Grenadian heritage, I was surrounded by rhythm, vibrance and storytelling. From amazing cultural stories to tales of Britain's sordid past, and my grandparents' experiences during Windrush, stories were everywhere.

My grandparents taught me to have immense pride in where I come from. The colours of our flags, the spices and wonderful aromas rising from the Dutch pot in the evenings, wrapping themselves around the house, and the laughter. Oh, the laughter that filled every room.

That very vibrance and colour shaped how I see the world and how I choose to show up. It is the very reason why every Oriah Nova piece or post carries meaning. For many, like myself, colour tells a story. The right colour can shift your mood, ignite your confidence and remind you that you're allowed to stand out. Colour also carries cultural meaning and is interwoven through landscapes, architecture and identity.

Colour is especially important to me because it is a language of joy, survival and being seen. There was a time when I tried to blend in, to not deviate from the norm, but colour ultimately changed that for me. Like Cinderella arriving at the ball, her stunning gown and beauty announcing her before her name had even been introduced, I too had arrived. Like a colourful bag of Skittles, I was claiming my place in the world and allowing my inner child to roam free. Into the light was exactly where she belonged. In many ways, it was the reclamation of myself.