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What we carry can say almost as much about us as what we wear. For Kirsten Aneké, founder of GEM Collection, that idea goes deeper than aesthetics. Her emerging luxury lifestyle brand approaches travel accessories through the intersection of fashion, function and intention, encouraging women to think not only about where they are going, but about the energy they want to carry with them along the way.
At the center of Aneké’s vision is a philosophy that feels particularly relevant in an era when travel has become as much about personal transformation as the destination itself: what we carry should reflect how we move.
Through GEM Collection, Kirsten Aneké translates that concept into elevated vegan leather travel pieces designed to balance sophistication with everyday practicality. Its signature colorways take inspiration from crystals and the intentions traditionally associated with them: Angelite represents peace, Onyx embodies power, Jade symbolizes growth and Smoky Quartz represents release. The concept allows shoppers to choose a piece based not simply on color, but on the energy they want to bring into their next experience.
I recently had the opportunity to experience GEM Collection’s vegan leather travel tote and coordinating toiletry bag firsthand. Beyond the sleek presentation, what stood out was the attention to function. The structured pieces are designed to accommodate the realities of travel without sacrificing the polished aesthetic of an elevated lifestyle accessory—a balance Aneké says was deliberate from the beginning.
For this Hype Magazine conversation, Kirsten Aneké opens up about the personal philosophy that inspired GEM Collection, how crystals and color psychology inform the brand’s identity, the connection between travel and reinvention, and what she has learned while building a company designed to help women move through the world more intentionally.
Kirsten Aneké on Style, Energy and Moving With Intention
Hype Magazine: GEM Collection is rooted in the idea that what we carry should reflect how we move. What inspired that philosophy, and how has your own journey shaped the brand’s identity?
I’ve always been a big believer in the fact that mindset and energy really sets the tone for every interaction of the day. Some days, you might need a little boost, and a couple things that have worked for me are using crystals and through the fashion choices I make. I am a crystal girly! I’m that girl that decides what type of energy is going to help me successfully tackle the day and I will choose the crystal that exudes that energy and put it in my purse to carry with me. And when it comes to fashion, making sure I love what I’m wearing, feel comfortable and am appropriately outfitted to tackle the task at hand instantly makes me feel more confident. Like they say when you look good, you feel good. So GEM Collection really came out of the marriage of these two insights. Combining style with energy to be intentional about how you want to move.
Hype Magazine: Each GEM color represents a distinct energy—Peace, Power, Growth and Release. How did you develop those meanings, and what do you hope customers feel when choosing the energy that speaks to them?
Each colorway is named after a specific crystal that represents each distinct energy: angelite, onyx, jade and smoky quartz. So the color of the bag is meant to evoke the same feelings that the crystals do. While the bag isn’t made of the same materials, the color of each plays a huge role when it comes to the energy it represents and has different psychological effects – for example blue is known to make people feel more calm and the color green makes people think of growth. GEM Collection is meant to be relatable to everyone even if they don’t necessarily use crystals themselves. When customers choose the energy that they want to move with, the hope is for them to feel more centered, confident and rooted in their intention.
Hype Magazine: After experiencing the vegan leather travel tote and matching toiletry bag, I was struck by how seamlessly the pieces balance structure, sophistication and function. How intentional is that balance in your design process?
Oh it’s all 100% intentional. In terms of the design, I wanted to create a product that was high quality, fashionable and exuded luxury but also included functional features that would make travelling through the day more convenient and comfortable. I noticed there was a bit of a gap in the market when it came to balancing those two things at a price point that feels reasonable. GEM Collection is meant to bridge that gap and provide a product that looks good and feels good to both you and your wallet. The design is also meant to carry a lot without looking like it – no bulkyness or strain. The style is maintained whether you have a ton of stuff in your bag or just a couple things, which was super important to me. The tote and toiletry bag can fit way more than you might think at first glance which was intentionally done.
Hype Magazine: Travel can represent freedom, reinvention and expansion. What does travel mean to you personally, and how does GEM Collection support women as they move through new destinations and new seasons of life?
To me, travel is all about the mind, body and world connection. It’s a way to connect with yourself by removing yourself from your normal environment, routine and the noise of daily life and really being able to reflect on your life and what you want out of it. It’s a time to set intentions for what you want when you do return to the norm. And it’s also a way to learn about other cultures, other ways of life and to pull from those things to again connect to yourself and what you really want out of life. Travelling shows you different perspectives and allows you the time to reflect which ultimately will push you to be more mindful about the moves you’re making and what outcomes you want. Peace, power, growth and release are all reasons to travel that ultimately bring you to this place of being more intentional.
Hype Magazine: As the founder of an emerging luxury lifestyle brand, what have you learned about building with intention, trusting your vision and creating products that encourage women to move through the world with confidence?
I’ve learned that you always have to remember why you started and what problem you’re trying to solve because so many people will offer up their opinions or try to pull the brand into a direction you never meant it to go. With so much saturation in almost every market these days, your unique vision is what’s going to make your brand stand out and be different from the rest so you really need to trust that vision and not get lost in what everyone else is doing. And to remember that greatness takes time and anything that’s going to last takes time to build so it’s worth putting in the extra time and effort to build it the way you see fit, and not just copy what worked for someone else. I’ve also learned that being confident is not only about looking good, but it’s really about feeling good physically and mentally. I’m creating products targeting all aspects of confidence.
The post Kirsten Aneké Is Bringing Intention, Energy and Elevated Style to Travel With GEM Collection appeared first on The Hype Magazine.
