Multi-faceted: Océanne to bring sparkle and flair to Gordon Square

After two years of creating one-of-a-kind jewelry in her ArtCraft Building studio on Superior Avenue, and before that sharing studio space and working out of her home, Anne Harrill felt it was time to share her love of the craft on a more personal level.

Harrill's search for a space that could incorporate both her studio and a retail storefront culminated in the heart of the Gordon Square Arts District. She found the perfect spot in the former home of Trunk Collective, an 800-square-foot space located at 6515 Detroit Ave.

This Saturday, Oct. 21, Harrill will open the doors to her new studio and retail space for the grand opening of Océanne. Until now, Harrill’s creations were only available through venues like the Cleveland Flea, her website, and pop-up events.

<span class="content-image-text">The Diamant Bolo</span>The Diamant BoloHarrill specializes in brass, silver, and gold-filled jewelry. “I like stenciling messages into my work—from fun or dainty to more statement pieces,” says Harrill. Her current favorite piece is the Diamant Bolo, which Harrill touts as "unique, versatile, and unisex.”

Raised outside of Avignon and in Cannes, France, Harrill came to Cleveland in 2002 to marry her husband, Doc, a Mayfield Heights native. It was in Cleveland that she really began to develop her craft. In jewelry, I found my voice and made America my home,” Harrill says on her website. She adds that jewelry has also helped her make connections.


Harrill chose the name "Océanne" to reflect her French background and was easy to pronounce. "I am from the south of France, and thought the name was the perfect name for me," she says. "Coming from across the ocean, and my first name is in it. It is also a French first name."

“I enjoy making jewelry because it is a simple accessory that can make a big statement,” says Harrill, who keeps it simple while working by wearing a rotating array of short necklaces. “I love that I can help women, or men, express themselves with pieces I design. A piece of jewelry can be so meaningful, whether it marks someone's milestones, memories, makes a political statement, or is a cherished poem or verse.”

Harrill says many of her customers who hire her for custom work return multiple times to alter and add to her designs as a way to mark milestones. “I have been building friendships and special connections while making jewelry with wonderful women and their families,” she says. “I love making jewelry. as it is a very creative outlet that can evolve with me and helps me connect with people via fashion and style.”

While half of Océanne will be a retail store, the other half will serve as Harrill’s studio, where shoppers will be able to observe as the pieces are being made. Harrill says the space was pretty much move-in ready. "We didn't have to build out anything," she says. "We just had to get our benches in and paint."

Representatives from the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DSCDO), which owns the space, are thrilled to have Harrill in the neighborhood. “She is a dynamic, talented entrepreneur and will be a wonderful addition to our already thriving, creative-minded group of Detroit Avenue merchants,"  says Jenny Spencer, managing director of DSCDO. "We can’t wait for Anne to add her own sense of style and business acumen to Gordon Square.”

The grand opening on Saturday will feature studio tours, demonstrations, a preview of Harrill’s new collection, music, wine, and cheese from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Océanne’s normal hours will be Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Karin Connelly Rice
Karin Connelly Rice

About the Author: Karin Connelly Rice

Karin Connelly Rice enjoys telling people's stories, whether it's a promising startup or a life's passion. Over the past 20 years she has reported on the local business community for publications such as Inside Business and Cleveland Magazine. She was editor of the Rocky River/Lakewood edition of In the Neighborhood and was a reporter and photographer for the Amherst News-Times. At Fresh Water she enjoys telling the stories of Clevelanders who are shaping and embracing the business and research climate in Cleveland.