Kenly Warren

Even as a young man, Kenly’s style stood out: sophisticated and urban, yet functional. Unimpressed by current trends, he altered or made his own clothing and accessories, and people took notice and commissioned pieces from him. While working toward a business degree, he began studying metal arts, which led him to designing and casting jewelry. He has been captivated by the craft ever since.

Inspiration can come from anywhere in the city: Middle Eastern calligraphy on a neighborhood mosque, the clean lines of Japanese and German design, the crashing waves of the Pacific, or a rusted railroad track in an unpolished corner of town. The organic form of a regional bird and the precise architecture of California’s technology boom can move him equally.

Kenly names individual pieces after West African towns and states to honor his ancestors, connecting their warrior spirit, vibrancy, artistry, struggle and courage from past to present.

His often-unisex pieces are made for people who don’t need magazines or social media to tell them what’s desirable. Kenly still lives in San Francisco, where he designs and manufactures his own line along with work for a growing roster of clients.

“Like its maker, his jewelry is bold, graceful and at least a little bit rebellious.”