The Bigger The Hoop, The Bigger The Heart
Claddagh rings have long been a staple accessory in Ireland, and gold hoop earrings enjoy global popularity. Since the 1980s, designers have fused the two into one piece: the Claddagh hoop. These chunky gold earrings have gained newfound popularity in recent years, with many fashionable girls across Ireland sporting them, including influencers such as Aoife O’Farrell.
Inspired by both the Claddagh ring (a symbol of love, loyalty, and friendship) and the chunky gold bamboo hoop earrings most commonly associated with Black and Latinx culture in America, Claddagh hoops are a fascinating example of cross-cultural hybridity in contemporary fashion.
They are typically gold and large in size, making for a bold accessory, though smaller, silver variations exist as well. You may even find vintage Claddagh hoops from the 1980s and 1990s; these are usually more understated than their contemporary counterparts.
One of the designers responsible for the earrings’ revival is Wee Girl, a women-owned fashion accessory brand based in Belfast. Last year’s AVA Festival saw both Aika Mal, the Northern Irish singer and DJ, and Miss Bashful, the Berlin-based ‘slut techno’ musician, wearing Wee Girl’s gold Claddagh hoops, solidifying the earrings’ connection with cool-girl status.
These statement pieces are proudly displayed in vintage shops across the country, with places like Dublin’s The Big Smoke Vintage frequently finding their €12 versions out of stock.
The Claddagh hoop is a modern expression of Irish culture through jewellery, and a statement of belonging to this small country. At a time when popular discourse is rife with discussions about who has the right to claim Irish heritage,Claddagh earrings serve as a small, yet political, expression of identity.
In pairing the designs of the gold bamboo hoops from Black, Latinx, and hip-hop culture with the distinctly Irish Claddagh ring, these earrings are a powerful marriage of jewellery and culture. And they just so happen to look really cool, too.
Written by Leona VC
