Forged in Fire: Diana Leon’s ‘Forest Goddess’ Finds a Home at Portland’s The Luxury Exchange
In the vibrant, creative heart of Portland, Oregon, a unique partnership is blossoming. It’s a collaboration that transcends typical retail, weaving together the threads of independent artistry, sustainable luxury, and profound storytelling. From August 11th to September 7th, local fine jewelry designer Diana Leon and the esteemed boutique, The Luxury Exchange, are joining forces for an inaugural jewelry residency. This event is more than just a showcase; it’s a powerful demonstration of how brick-and-mortar retailers and solo creators can forge meaningful connections, building a bridge between the artist’s vision and the customer’s heart. The star of this residency is Leon’s brand, Retórica, and its breathtaking new collection, Forest Goddess—a testament to feminine power, resilience, and transformation.
The Visionary Behind the Craft: Meet Diana Leon
To understand the soul of Retórica jewelry is to understand the journey of its creator, Diana Leon. Born and raised in Mexico, Leon’s creative path began not with metals and gemstones, but with textiles and fashion design. This early education instilled in her a deep appreciation for form, texture, and the way materials can be manipulated to tell a story on the human body. However, a deeper calling led her to the world of gemology, where she pursued and earned certifications from the prestigious Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in gemology, pearls, and diamond grading. This technical mastery became the bedrock upon which she would build her artistic practice.
A Philosophy of Wearable Emotion
For Leon, jewelry is not mere adornment. It’s a language, a vessel for deeply personal narratives. “My philosophy is that jewelry is wearable emotion, a connection between the maker, the wearer, and a moment in time,” she explains with palpable passion. “It’s intentional, expressive, and personal. Jewelry isn’t just decoration; it’s a memory, it’s an identity, and it is a form of transformation.”
This belief is the driving force behind Retórica. Each piece is meticulously crafted to be more than an accessory; it’s a talisman, an emblem of the wearer’s inner world. Leon seeks to create profoundly feminine jewelry that doesn’t whisper, but rather declares a woman’s power, her confidence, and her unique sense of self.
The Healing Power of the Forge
Leon’s connection to her craft runs deeper than professional passion; it’s intensely personal and born from a place of healing. “On a personal level, I often say jewelry-making saved my life,” she confides. “I discovered this craft during a difficult time, and the physical act of working with metal—hammering, soldering, shaping, polishing—gave me a sense of healing and presence.”
This therapeutic process is imbued into the very DNA of her work. The act of transforming raw, unyielding metal through force and fire into something beautiful and refined became a powerful metaphor for her own journey of overcoming adversity. It’s this authentic, lived experience that gives her creations an emotional weight and resonance that mass-produced items could never achieve.
The Curators’ Haven: The Luxury Exchange
The setting for this residency is just as integral to the story as the jewelry itself. The Luxury Exchange, co-owned and operated by the dynamic husband-and-wife team Beth and Adam Anundi, is a cornerstone of Portland’s fashion scene. It is not your average consignment shop. Specializing in authenticated, pre-owned designer fashion, handbags, watches, and fine jewelry, the boutique is a sanctuary for those who appreciate craftsmanship, history, and sustainability.
More Than a Boutique: A Pillar of the Creative Community
Beth and Adam Anundi see themselves as more than just retailers; they are active participants and patrons of Portland’s thriving creative ecosystem. They have a history of collaborating with local artists, using their platform to amplify the voices of artisans in the region. Their decision to launch a fine jewelry residency was a natural evolution of this mission.
“We always want to create experiences,” states Beth Anundi. Her passion for fostering community is evident. “We reached out to Diana because of her intentionality, craftsmanship, and how she creates her work. There’s a story and a soul behind every piece she makes.” Anundi notes the profound effect Leon’s jewelry has on people. “When people put on one of her pieces, it becomes an experience. It’s not just an object; it’s a feeling, a connection.”
Sustainability as a Shared Ethos
The partnership is also rooted in a powerful, shared value: sustainability. The very business model of The Luxury Exchange is built on the principles of reuse and giving beautiful, well-made items a second life. This aligns perfectly with Diana Leon’s own practices. The designer is committed to repurposing gold and gemstones for her Retórica creations, breathing new life into precious materials and reducing the environmental impact of her craft. This mutual commitment to conscious consumerism makes the collaboration feel less like a business arrangement and more like a meeting of kindred spirits.
The Inaugural Residency: A Symbiotic Partnership
For an independent designer like Diana Leon, who does not operate a traditional storefront, the challenges of reaching a wider audience can be significant. The digital world is vital, but it cannot replicate the tactile, sensory experience of interacting with fine jewelry in person. This residency provides the crucial physical space for that magic to happen.
The Power of Physical Presence
The installation at The Luxury Exchange is designed to be a gallery-like immersion into the world of Retórica. It offers Leon an invaluable opportunity to present her work in a context that enhances its narrative. “As designers, we often spend most of our time focused on creating,” Leon says. “It’s easy to overlook how important it is to have your pieces displayed in spaces that understand and enhance your vision.”
She sees the residency as a chance to connect directly with both new and existing clients, to witness their genuine reactions, and to learn how they engage with her art. “A residency gives you the chance to collaborate with professionals who can help translate your work into an immersive experience,” she adds. It’s a living laboratory for her art, providing feedback and connection that no online platform can match.
Unveiling the Forest Goddess: A Collection Forged in Transformation
At the heart of the residency is Leon’s stunning new collection, Forest Goddess. Crafted from luminous 14k gold and carefully selected gemstones, the collection is a poetic exploration of a woman’s journey through life. It is an ode to the multifaceted nature of femininity, inspired by the untamed spirit of the natural world.
Gold, Fire, and Feminine Strength
Leon uses the inherent properties of gold as a central metaphor for the collection. Gold, she explains, is uniquely malleable. It can be transformed by fire, shaped by mechanical force, and altered through various processes, yet it never loses its intrinsic value and essence. “To me, this is a powerful metaphor for the human experience,” Leon elaborates. “We too are shaped by pressure and change, yet we carry our core strength through every transformation.”
This symbolism is woven into every curve, hammer mark, and polished surface of the Forest Goddess pieces. You can almost feel the journey of the metal, mirroring the way women evolve through life’s trials and triumphs—the fire of heartbreak, the pressure of expectation, the shaping of motherhood, the polishing of wisdom.
The Archetype of the Untamed Spirit
The collection’s name evokes a powerful archetype: a woman who is as free and untamed as the forest, and as divinely powerful as a goddess. “She lives on her own terms—sometimes strong, sometimes soft, sometimes loud, sometimes quiet, but always true to herself,” the designer describes. “This collection is a celebration of that freedom.”
It is a rebellion against the notion that women must fit into a single, prescribed mold. The Forest Goddess collection gives its wearer permission to be complex and contradictory. It is, as Leon beautifully puts it, “a celebration of the right to self-expression without the need to explain or justify it to anyone.” Each day brings new growth, like a tree reaching for the sun, and with that growth comes the power to evolve and carry oneself in a way that feels authentic and true. This residency in Portland is not just an event; it is the physical manifestation of that very idea—a space where art, story, and soul can be expressed, celebrated, and shared.
