all about dot&hana
dot&hana is a meander through creative mind of me, Rachael, and the things I make and like.
On dot&hana you can buy jewellery and other things (mostly sewing) that I've made and read about stuff that I'm working on or passionate about. Occasionally there might be work from other designers because I get really enthusiastic about the beautiful and interesting things that I find and enjoy sharing them. There's also a selection of vintage jewellery pieces collected over the years, in the pre-loved shop.
If you've found dot&hana because of my boutique, Hannah Zakari, you might know that I've been making and selling jewellery since 2004. I’m a trained pattern cutter/dressmaker, and my obsession with finding Japanese beads, charms and curios to work into my jewellery, is only matched by finding the perfect addition to my fabric stash. I'm a self taught artist, and from time to time I like to dabble in pottery. I also spend as much time as I can tending to the plants and weeds in my garden.
I started an online boutique called Hannah Zakari from my flat Glasgow in 2004, and in 2010 opened a 'real life' Hannah Zakari shop in Edinburgh (with a few years running things from a studio in sunny Govan in between!).
The beautiful HZ shop on Candlemaker Row sold my own work alongside the work of some of the best and most inspirational independent designers from around the world, and closed in 2020.
I became inspired to make jewellery, and accessories in particular, in Japan, where I started to pick up interesting and beautiful curios to incorporate into my work. I love discovering cute little beads and charms, and the intricacies of creating new things. I still feel inspired by Japanese culture and can't wait go back and top up my precious supplies when travel resumes, but for now I'm making do with searching online for those elusive perfect pieces.
Graphic designer and illustrator, Anke Weckmann created the beautiful dot&hana logo and branding. Anke designed the branding for Hannah Zakari too, so I knew she'd come up with something perfect! The logo is inspired by the word 'hana' which is Japanese for 'flower' or 'blooming', and has a positive meaning in many other languages where it is used.
Most of the work on dot&hana has been made by me, and if it hasn't it will be credited to the designer or creator. All of your orders are packaged and posted from my home studio in Perthshire, Scotland, it's one of my favourite things to do!
If you’d like to know more about dot&hana, or have any questions about our jewellery and other things, please get in touch with me, Rachael. You can do this on our contact page or by emailing me at dotandhana@gmail.com.