In this edition of Women Who Launch, Ina Yulo Stuve speaks to Dinny Hall about her eponymous jewellery brand rooted in timeless luxury.
“Essential. Elegant. Enduring. These three words capture the heart of the brand,” says jewellery designer Dinny Hall. She talks about how her eponymous brand is rooted in her passion to create pieces that are ‘understated, refined, and last a lifetime’, values that ring true even more now that she is celebrating her business’s 40-year anniversary.
Whether it’s her signature hoops or bold gemstone pieces, style icons - we’re talking Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and Sienna Miller - across the decades have donned a Dinny Hall creation or two. “It’s exciting any time a high-profile person wears my jewellery, but Kristin Scott Thomas wearing my earrings in the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral was a real highlight,” she shares.
Creative pursuits came to Dinny early on, and even as a young child, she was curious about the world around her and often found ways to work with her hands.
“I was constantly performing my own plays, baking cakes, illustrating little books, and designing interiors for imaginary houses. I even once traded my mother’s engagement ring for a Barbie doll—an early, if slightly misguided, sign of entrepreneurial spirit,” she laughs.
Over the past four decades, Dinny has built an empire that encompasses an e-commerce business along with five stores across London. Her enduring relationship with iconic department store Liberty has also continued to go from strength to strength. She reflects: “In those early days, I worked out of hat designer Stephen Jones’ workshop on Lexington Street, which was such a creative, electric environment. Looking back, it feels incredible to think how young I was and how it all started there.”
How have the challenges of being a female founder changed since you first launched your business?
Immeasurably. I look back now and can hardly believe the attitudes we faced. There was this old school notion that young women entrepreneurs weren’t worth investing in because they’d eventually ‘go off and have babies.’ And when I did have my son, I quickly realised that juggling a husband, a baby, and a jewellery business was simply impossible, so I chose the baby and the business, in that order.
Can you tell us more about the Liberty partnership and how that came about?
It all began at my degree show when I was graduating from Central Saint Martins. The jewellery buyer at the time, April Glassborough, spotted my designs and asked me to create a collection for Liberty. That collection went on to feature in the Liberty Christmas catalogue in 1984. Liberty was the very first prestigious department store I ever sold to and it was such a confidence boost and really marked the start of my journey designing and making my own jewellery collections.
How have your own life milestones influenced your designs?
My designs have always punctuated my life’s journey, whether the moments have been sublime or sad. Each collection reflects a chapter of my story, translating emotions and experiences into form, texture, and meaning. In many ways, my jewellery has been both a creative outlet and a diary of my life.
How have you adapted to the evolving preferences of each new generation of buyers?
I’ve adapted by evolving myself, staying curious, open, and willing to learn from people younger than me. I listen, collaborate, and embrace change, especially when it moves things forward in a positive way. It’s exciting!
What’s the one task you always do yourself and the task you recommend outsourcing?
I mostly handle the creative ideas and jewellery designs myself—that’s my world—everything techy, I outsource. That’s just not where my genius lies.
Is there a particular business skill that you’re currently trying to master?
I can’t read a spreadsheet, and profit-and-loss reports just don’t speak my language—that’s not how my brain works. But I do have an intuitive sense of exactly where we stand at any given moment. Will I ever master the art of reading a figures-led financial report? I’m afraid I doubt it.
What’s next for Dinny Hall?
I’m now working with an incredibly talented young design team and exploring some very exciting collaborations. We’re preparing to open a new store in Leeds’ Victoria Quarter, with plans for another in London. But perhaps the most important focus is future-proofing the brand, ensuring it can continue to operate and flourish in a marketplace that’s constantly shifting, creatively, technologically, and demographically.
In this edition of Women Who Launch, we speak with Molly about the special connection she has with India and how Instagram helped tell her brand’s story in the most authentic way.
Founder of Bold Bean Co, Amelia Christie-Miller, tells The Sybarite about her time on Dragons' Den and how she came to launch her very own gourmet bean brand.
Tucked in Pererenan between Canggus creative pulse and tranquil emerald rice terraces, TheHub redefines what remote work can feel like. It’s not just an accommodation; it is a sanctuary where productivity meets serenity, and purpose aligns with pause.
In this edition of Women Who Launch, we speak to Delia Wade about her experience of launching a fashion brand and the lessons she is learned from trusted mentors.
Meet Serra Türker Bayır, the founder of Misela. The Istanbul-founded luxury brand which has built a reputation for its exquisite, handcrafted bags and travel accessories
