Spotlight On: Tania Hill, Founder of Tania Claire Australia
Tania Hill, Founder of Tania Claire Australia
We all have something — that one thing we do to destress and disconnect from the everyday. Something we do not because we have to, but because we genuinely enjoy it. It could be a bit of writing, gardening, or perhaps crochet. No matter what it is, for many, the idea of these hobbies becoming anything more than a post-work ritual, let alone a full-blown career, feels unfathomable.
For Tania Hill, that something was jewellery making. What began as a childhood hobby soon enough became her way to unwind after long shifts working as a paramedic. Over time, it evolved into something much deeper - a creative outlet, a form of healing, and eventually, a brand.
Now the founder of Tania Claire Australia, Tania blends storytelling, emotion and craftsmanship into every piece she designs. Her collections are inspired by nature, mythology, and the resilience she witnessed in her years in healthcare — each one a wearable chapter of her journey.
We sat down with Tania to talk about her transition from paramedicine to fashion, the emotional roots of her collections, and what it means to build a brand that’s both beautiful and meaningful.
Thank you so much for joining us, Tania. Now, you haven’t always worked in the world of jewellery and fashion - you began your career as a paramedic. Can you share what inspired your journey from healthcare to launching your own jewellery brand?
I’ve always made jewellery; it was my creative outlet throughout my entire paramedic career. Working in high-pressure environments taught me resilience, empathy, and the beauty of human strength, but it also left me searching for balance. Designing pieces became my way to reconnect with myself, a quiet ritual that grounded me amid the chaos.
Over time, what began as a personal passion evolved into something much larger, a brand built from those same qualities I carried in medicine: precision, compassion, and meaning. Tania Claire Australia is the natural continuation of that journey, a celebration of transformation, storytelling, and the power of creation as a form of healing.
What was the very first piece of jewellery you designed, and what does it mean to you now?
The very first piece I ever made was when I was about nine years old. I remember rummaging through my mum’s craft supplies; she was making raffia hats at the time, and I borrowed a few strands of straw to thread with beads. That little creation became my first necklace. I still have it sitting on my workbench today, a small but powerful reminder of where it all began. Creativity, curiosity, and my mother’s influence are woven through every collection I’ve designed since.
The first piece of jewellery designed by Tania at nine years old
Where do you find inspiration for your collections?
Inspiration always begins with emotion for me, a feeling, a memory, or a story I need to tell. My collections are deeply personal; they’re chapters of my own life translated into form. Cordelia – Daughter of the Sea was born from my connection to the ocean and a way of honouring my late father. Gaia – Origins grew from my mother’s influence and the grounding strength she instilled in me.
Nature, mythology, and human resilience are constant threads throughout my work. I’m endlessly inspired by the balance between strength and softness, the way beauty often emerges from chaos, and how jewellery can hold that duality like a quiet talisman.
How does life on the Australian coast shape the colours, textures, or overall aesthetic of your jewellery?
Living by the Australian coast has shaped everything I create. The landscape here is full of contrasts, raw and untamed, yet effortlessly beautiful. I’m drawn to the textures of sand and salt, the shimmer of sunlight on water, and the muted tones of shells and stone. Those elements naturally find their way into my work through colour, form, and material choice.
There’s a sense of calm strength in the coastline that mirrors what I want my pieces to evoke, grounded, timeless, and connected to nature, yet undeniably luminous.
Having been featured in Harper’s Bazaar and ELLE, how did those opportunities come together, and what was it like seeing your work in the press?
Those features came about through collaboration. I’ve been fortunate to work with an incredible mix of creatives, stylists, and photographers who have believed in the brand and helped open those doors. Every opportunity has felt organic, built from genuine connections and shared vision.
Seeing my pieces in Harper’s Bazaar and ELLE was a surreal moment. It reminded me how powerful collaboration can be, and how far passion and persistence can take you when you stay true to your story.
Elle Magazine
Model wears Wren Pearl Drops from Tania Claire Australia
The all-important question when it comes to jewellery - Are you team silver, gold, or do you prefer the perfect blend of two-tone jewellery?
I’ve always mixed everything! Gold, silver, pearls, gemstones! I love the freedom of not choosing. Jewellery should feel personal and layered, a reflection of mood rather than rules. The magic often happens in the mix!
Sustainability and slow fashion are becoming more important in jewellery — how do these values show up in your brand?
For me, sustainability is about intention. Every Tania Claire Australia piece is designed to be timeless, something to treasure, not to trend. I create in small, considered runs and focus on quality craftsmanship, ensuring each piece has longevity both in style and in make.
Slow fashion, to me, is about connection, knowing where your pieces come from and why they exist. Jewellery carries emotion and memory, so it deserves to be made with care and purpose.
If you could only keep one piece of jewellery for life, which would it be and why? I’m sure that’s the toughest choice anyone could make!
So tough to choose, but I’d have to say my Ocean Deep black pearl necklace. It’s one of the first designs that truly felt like me, bold, symbolic, and forever tied to the ocean that inspires so much of my work.
Ocean Deep Necklace from the Cordelia Collection | Image available via Flaunter
Where would you love to see your jewellery in five years’ time?
In five years, I’d love to see Tania Claire Australia stocked in select international boutiques and luxury retailers, places that value craftsmanship, storytelling, and individuality. I also hope to keep collaborating with creatives who align with the brand’s energy and vision. More than anything, I want each collection to keep evolving with meaning, to stay intentional, personal, and connected to everyone who wears it.
If you could see anyone wearing your designs, who would it be and why?
That’s such a hard question, my list would be so long! I’d love to see Tania Claire Australia worn by anyone who connects with its story, but if I had to choose, Margot Robbie would be at the top. She embodies that effortless blend of strength, elegance, and individuality that inspires my designs. Still, it’s never been about celebrity for me, it’s about the energy someone brings to a piece and how it becomes part of their own story. That’s where the magic really is.
To learn more about Tania Claire Australia, and to shop the jewellery range, head to their website.
For all press enquiries and to download high-res imagery, please visit the Tania Claire Australia Flaunter profile.
