where the forests found us again

A Look Back at OurVolant Magazine Feature

Every fall, as the light softens and the trees begin their slow transformation, I find myself drawn back to the quiet poetry of nature — the textures, the shadows, the way the earth feels both grounding and full of possibility.

This shift in season reminded me of a moment in our journey that continues to hum beneath the surface: our 2017 feature in Volant Magazine, an editorial fittingly titled “Tree Hugger.”

The adha zelma pieces were pulled by the creative team for their own vision, and there was something beautiful — almost sacred — in seeing how they imagined our work living in the world.

Volant Magazine - Featuring adha zelma studio

When Someone ElseInterprets Your Art

There’s a special kind of magic in watching another creative mind engage with your pieces.
They find nuances you didn’t realize were there.
They see through a different lens.
They allow the work to speak in a new voice.

In this editorial, the team placed our adornment in a living landscape — bark, branches, filtered sunlight, and the grounded stillness of the forest floor. The jewelry became part of that environment, not an accessory, but a natural extension of the scene.

It felt like watching the pieces return to their origins.

Roots & Evolution

Looking at these images now, I recognize so much of what continues to guide adha zelma today:

organic movement
earthy silhouettes
sculptural lines
the relationship between body and nature

Even without shaping the creative direction, the editorial carried the same sensibility that has always lived within the brand. It felt instinctively connected — like the forest was speaking our language.

Why This MomentStill Matters

As the brand has grown and evolved, certain moments remain touchstones along the path. This editorial is one of them. Not because it was planned. Not because I orchestrated it. But because it reflected the essence of adha zelma in a way that felt honest and elemental.

Revisiting it during the fall season feels like honoring our roots and acknowledging the quiet ways our work continues to unfold.

With Gratitudeto the Visionaries

Photography — Maria Panina
Makeup — Mika Omura
Photo Assistant — Ilona Golovina
Wardrobe Styling — Caroline Marie
Hair — Li Murillo
Model — Tatiana Stewart
Adornments — adha zelma

Their artistry offered the pieces a space to breathe, move, and belong.

A Closing Note - Nature Teaches Us So Much

Nature remains one of my greatest teachers.
Revisiting this editorial reminds me how the work grows new branches, even while staying rooted in the same spirit.

Thank you for stepping back into the forest with me.
cherise
co-founder & creative director, adha zelma