Culture and Living | Iceland Monitor | Thu 11 Dec 2014 | 11.24 GMT | Modified at 13.51

The deep meaning of ordinary things

Orri Finnbogason and Helga Gvuðrún Friðriksdóttir, the couple behind jewellery label Orri Finn. Mbl.is/ Ómar Óskarsson

Orri Finn's new collection of jewellery, Braid, will be premiered tonight in the form of an exhibition by renowned fashion photographer Saga Sigurðardóttir. According to the team behind Orri Finn, Helga Gvuðrún Friðriksdóttir and Orri Finnbogason, braids have been a part of mankind since its very origins.

A braid symbolises past, present and future

"Braids are connected to the keeping of memories, love or relationships," expains Friðriksdóttir."We found it really interesting how such an ordinary thing can be invested with such meaning. For the Native Americans a braid was symbolic of union and the three strands of hair in a braid symbolise past, present and future. We believe most people connect to the braid. We've all braided hair or friendship bracelets and many people keep a lock of hair or a braid from their children or loved ones. For us, the braid is connected to memories and the safe keeping of memories of love and relationships." She adds that braids were present in all primitive societies and that some tribes can tell a person's marital status, society status and family ties just from a braid.

A couple who share similar tastes

Finnbogason and Friðrikdóttir are not only business partners but also a couple. Finn is the goldsmith and Helga assembles the pieces. "We're lucky to share really similar tastes, " says Friðriksdóttir. "We are enchanted by the same things and working on ideas together has gone really well. We love working on ideas and really enjoy it." When asked about their favourite material to work in, she admits to gold being the ultimate choice. "But it's pretty expensive so we don't always get the chance to use it. We've mixed metals a lot in our work, using silver and bronze and we like to use natural stones for colour. We use diamonds in our new Braid collection."

Collaboration with Saga Sigurðardóttir

Photographer Saga Sigurðardóttir has taken some beautiful shots using jewellery from the Braid collection and the results will be exhibited in Grandagarður 33 in Reykjavík tonight. "We contacted Saga as we really like what she's doing. She was really interested and quick to put herself into our world of ideas. Our cooperation went really well, she's a professional and a pleasure to work with." According to Friðrikdóttir, Orri Finn is not currently concentrating on the international market. "We selll our products in one shop in Los Angeles and one in Copenhagen but we are being careful and concentrating on the Icelandic market. Next year we're opening an online store so our possibilities internationally might increase." Asked about what the New Year will bring for Orri Finn she answers ,"We're looking forward to DesignMarch in Reykjavik where we are creating a larger piece that corresponds to our range. And most of all, we aim to keep having fun with what we're doing."