Bridging Heritage and Horizon: How Dorianne Attiogbé Weaves Togo, Paris, and Seattle into Jewelry
On a recent episode of The Day With Trae, host Trae Holiday welcomed Dorianne Attiogbé, the visionary founder and designer behind the jewelry brand Atiwo. Attiogbé spoke on how her lifelong passion for crafting flourished into her own jewelry line that bridges her West African heritage with Parisian and Pacific Northwestern influences.
After finding jewelry making as a childhood hobby, Attiogbé temporarily stepped away from it during her teenage years, only to rediscover the craft during the pandemic as a way to find an identity outside of her corporate job in Seattle. What started as a hobby posted on Instagram quickly evolved into a business as friends and followers clamored to purchase her unique creations.
The name of her brand, Atiwo, honors her father’s roots in Togo, West Africa. In Mina, the language spoken by her father, the name “Atiwo” translates to "the trees.” Attiogbé explained that she wanted a name tied to her identity without being overly obvious.
Attiogbé’s designs are a tapestry of her multicultural background:
West African Influence: She draws inspiration from the bold colors and patterns of the traditional attire worn by her family in Togo and the Benin Republic.
Parisian Style: Having been born and raised in Paris, she incorporates a crisp and sophisticated sense of style into her pieces.
Pacific Northwest Nature: After living in Seattle for a decade, she finds inspiration in the local landscape, particularly the blooming flowers of spring.
"I start with an idea and I just let it flourish. I let my hands do the work. And sometimes the results have nothing to do with the idea,” she said.
While Attiogbé is well-known for her work with polymer clay—a material she sculpts by hand to give each piece texture and body—she has recently expanded into metalwork. Her latest collection, Eliké, features brass jewelry, a process that involves carving primary models in wax before partnering with a manufacturer for the casting. Despite this growth, she continues to hand-finish every piece, ensuring that no two items are exactly alike.
"Two earrings…they're not twins. They're sisters…cousins, right?" she said.
With Mother’s Day approaching, Attiogbé encouraged viewers to explore her work online to find unique, handmade gifts at atiwodesigns.com.
Catch “The Day With Trae” Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 11 a.m. on all Converge streaming platforms.
Did you enjoy this blog post? Then consider donating to Converge and supporting our mission here.
