Two friends turn their necklace craft into a business on Instagram called Into the Savannah

Claudia McGinty, from Fareham and Jennifer Sanchez, from Southsea have just launched their new jewellery business, Into the Savannah.

Run through Instagram, their main product is intricately-shaped shell necklaces, which are inspired by the geometry of the earth.

Jennifer, who also runs The Liberty Lounge in Grove Road, Southsea, discovered the symbol after going through a rough patch in her life.

She said: ‘During the first lockdown I felt like I was a bit hopeless. My businesses had to close and it was all new to everyone and it was just generally a scary time.

‘I’m not religious so felt a bit hypocritical wearing a cross necklace or anything that signified Christianity, but I wanted to wear something that would remind me of what I had to be grateful for and keep me grounded. I found the shell necklace and I just knew that was it.

‘Once I started wearing it, I discovered that so many people were looking for the same thing I was and lots of them asking me where they could get one from.

‘My friend Claudia suggested I start creating them myself and making them really personal to how I felt and what I believed in, as I knew so many people believed in the same thing.’

The pair have designed four necklaces so far, The Goddess, Gabrielle, The Chalice and The Creator, all four of which are based on divine proportion - the geometric relationship that is seen in nature, art, and modern design.

They each symbolise a different set of values, including womanhood, freedom, luxury and motherhood.

The aim is for the shell to be a substitute for the cross for people who aren’t religious but are spiritual.

Claudia said: ‘I think it’s important that everyone has a symbol of hope of some sort in their lives. Even if you are religious you can appreciate the beauty of nature and use that to give you some hope.’

For more go to instagram.com/intothesavannah

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