Alissa Ramage is a perfect example of the idiom “good things come in small packages.” This  petite, bubbly and vibrant young woman is the mind behind Oneiro Designs — an up-and-coming jewelry business sold out of Luna + Hill Clothing Company on 3rd Avenue South in Saskatoon.

Ramage derived the name Oneiro (pronounced “oh-nair-oh”) from the word “oneirology”, which refers to the study of dreams. Aptly named, her collection of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, body chains and dreamcatchers is indeed dreamy as it combines an edgy blend of modern industrial style and bohemian flair.

The idea for the independent business was first cooked up 2012 and saw its official launch this past August out of Luna + Hill.

“My business started with dreamcatchers,” said Ramage. “I started off making one for a friend, then I went into Luna + Hill one day when they had the art gallery upstairs and I was like, ‘Oh, I could just see my dreamcatchers in here.’ That was the first time I ever made a collection.”

What began as a part-time position at Luna + Hill has transformed into a managerial role for Ramage, who also has ambitions to open her own store one day through which she can further promote her designs.

“I started off just hanging out in [Luna] because of my dreamcatchers and then one day they were like, ‘Do you want a job here?’” Ramage laughed. “It’s my passion. I always thought I was going to have my own business, but Oneiro just kind of took off and it’s getting so much hype that I thought I should take a shot at it.”

In addition to opening her own store, Ramage has plans to expand her business online as well as to other cities in Canada and the United States. The market for her work in Saskatoon is proving to be very promising in the meantime, however.

“I’ve had lots of support from the community and I’ve met so many great people through it,” said Ramage. “It’s a little intimidating having my stuff at Luna though because I’m so nervous about what [customers] are going to think. I’m the designer but they don’t know that, so they just say what they think of my stuff right in front of me.”

Ramage’s designs, though initially geared towards university students, are quickly growing in popularity across the board — in fact, she’s even designed jewelry for a six-year-old.

“But women in their 50s and 60s are really loving everything too, so it’s a pretty wide range.”

It’s easy to see why Oneiro Designs is receiving such positive feedback. From chunky necklaces and delicate earrings to unique wrist and body chains, Ramage’s creations are able to travel smoothly from the classroom to the club. Made up of an eclectic combination of chains, feathers, crystals and gemstones, Oneiro pieces can be seamlessly adapted to suit many different styles and outfits — especially for those who favour a more chic, daring look.

“Everytime I do a photoshoot or a lookbook I’m always like ‘be witchy’ to my models,” laughed Ramage. “I want it to look edgy, darker and kind of moody.”

Ramage gets her gemstones from a crystal farm outside of Vanscoy, Sask., and her chains and metals from a distributor in Toronto.

“I love the little crystal farm. My fall and winter lookbooks were shot there too,” said Ramage.  “It’s easy to get inspired there because the land is amazing. [There is] this big labyrinth with rocks and you can walk along it and when you reach the end its supposed to clear up your problems. There’s even a medicine wheel. It’s just beautiful.”

The positive response to Oneiro Designs is just one example of the collaborative artistic community that is growing more by the year in Saskatoon. It’s refreshing to live in a place that nurtures and encourages up-and-coming musicians, artists, designers and writers and Ramage’s work is a beautiful new addition to our warm and welcoming neck of the woods. In a small city such as this, it is easy to carve a place in the cultural market simply through word of mouth — no wonder Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip famously referred to Saskatoon as the “Paris of the Prairies” in the song “Wheat Kings.”

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Photo: Katherine Fedoroff/Photo Editor