Born in Cairo, Stravos credits a childhood trip to the Museum of Egypt where he was exposed to its dazzling display of jewelry as being a seminal moment in his life; he instinctually comprehended the storytelling powers of the artform’s medium.

This understanding is evident in his unwavering commitment to turning precious metals and gemstones into paintings, pushing the boundaries of inlaying and lost wax casting to the limits of their capabilities to create narrative designs that convey a depth of influences and inspirations.

KABANA has called Albuquerque, New Mexico its home since it was first launched. When he visited the Southwestern state in 1972, instead of staying only a few months as planned, Stravos says “destiny” stepped in and prompted him to instead plant roots.

It was in 1975 that he declared to his soon to be wife, Heidi, that he was starting a jewelry business. After originally setting up shop in his garage, it quickly became apparent that his operation needed room to grow, and he moved into an old adobe mission church in town with a bell tower that inspired the brand’s name, KABANA, Greek for bell.

Now joined in business by his children, Stravos credits his dedicated team, many of whom have been with him for over 40 years, with the continued success of the brand.

He considers the artisans and craftspeople with whom he works part of his extended family, and his devotion to family is a tenet that is at the heart of every touchpoint of the brand. While working in the high desert, away from any hub of the trade, may presents its challenges, Stravos cannot envision running the business from anywhere, or with anyone, else.

The first step in the creation of each and every design in the brand’s prolific collections is a painting, a painstaking process that must encapsulate the intended sentiments of the design, with Stravos noting, “Every stone has a color, every color has a feeling.”

With stringent standards of quality control that take into account both form and function in place, not every painting ends up going into production, not every model makes it into the collection. Before a piece makes its way from conception to collector, upwards of 40 people have had a hand in perfecting it to ensure it is a worthy representation of the most special moments in their clients’ lives.