Katja John - Germany
Katja John
Designer biography:
KATJA JOHN explores the tension and connection between strength and vulnerability through her label of handcrafted jewelry, LES. Graduated in Moscow at the Academie for applied arts and working in Berlin, she developed a dual design language: one line precise and graphical, translating ideas into defined forms; the other emergent and fluid, shaped by the making process, reflecting emotional states and inner landscapes. The name “Les” traces back to her childhood spent near a woodland, where close observation of nature’s finest details shaped her sensibility. Her work draws from this space—where structure meets feelings, and material becomes an extension of perception.
Collection concept:
Memories of undergrowth
The collection transforms childhood memories into abstract forms. The pistil and stamens of a lily from grandmother’s garden become the central motif; a wingless beetle, once found in the grass, returns as a floating trace; an aloe leaf evokes a vivid memory of an allergic reaction. With every movement, the wearer feels the weight of fragile branches connecting reality and memories. Inspired by the forest—its sounds, scents, and textures—the pieces evoke fleeting impressions and emotional traces, connecting the past and present in a subtle, tactile way.
