An invitation to interpret Muhammad Ali’s life through jewellery reached Toronto designer Ashley McFarlane at a Jamaican airport over a year ago, sparking a creative journey that culminated in the fine jewellery collection A Legend Carved in Stone, as Ron Fanfair reported.
The collaboration between Muhammad Ali Enterprises and McFarlane’s brand, Omi Woods, debuted on November 1 at the Aga Khan Museum. Lonnie Ali joined guests for the private tribute and launch event, celebrating pieces that translate the boxing icon’s legacy into wearable art.
Ashley McFarlane Blends Pan-African History and Humanitarian Legacy into Gemstone Jewelry
- The Debut: The collection launched on November 1 at Toronto’s Aga Khan Museum with Lonnie Ali in attendance.
- The Craftsmanship: Australian gemstone carver Ryan Bowen translated iconic Ali quotes into intricate intaglios using tiger’s eye and tiger iron.
- The Meaning: Designer Ashley McFarlane intertwined Pan-African history, her Jamaican Maroon heritage, and Ali’s humanitarian legacy into heirloom pieces.
Finding the Connection at the Aga Khan Museum
The project began unexpectedly while McFarlane was preparing to return home from a family trip to Jamaica. Staying with a friend whose coffee table featured a book about the legendary boxer, she received an email inquiring if she would consider shaping Ali’s story through her craft.
“Seeing that book and then getting the email, I thought, wow, this is very serendipitous,” McFarlane said. Initially, the designer needed time to evaluate how an Ali collection would align with her brand’s established aesthetic. Examining her catalog alongside Ali’s style revealed a natural bridge through Pan-Africanism.
“We have a lot of vintage African coins from that era when a lot of these countries in Africa and the Caribbean were gaining their independence from colonial rule,” McFarlane noted. “There’s definitely an influence of Pan-Africanism in the pieces that I make. I saw that connection.”
Translating Quotations Into Gemstone Intaglios
Hesitation eventually gave way to constant inspiration during the six-month design process. McFarlane drew from a childhood memory of watching a documentary as a teenager in Toronto, which helped her understand why Ali’s appeal extended far beyond boxing.
The resulting collection features unique brooches hand-carved from tiger’s eye and tiger iron. Australian gemstone carver Ryan Bowen executed the intaglios, capturing yellow, brown, red, and black tones that reflect Ali’s signature color palette.
“The collection includes a series of one-of-a-kind brooches inspired by some of Ali’s most iconic quotes, including ‘float like a butterfly, sting like a bee’,” McFarlane explained. Among her favorite pieces is a brooch depicting an alligator, a whale, and a lightning bolt.
“My favourite brooch features a little alligator, a little whale and a lightning bolt,” she said. “It whimsically captures the scene while bringing a fine-art quality to the piece.”
Honouring a Lifelong Legacy With Lonnie Ali
The launch event brought out figures from McFarlane’s past, including three-time Canadian Olympian Phylicia George. George recalled meeting McFarlane at a high school track club, praising her long-time friend for authentic representation and cultural storytelling.
Lonnie Ali praised the meticulous care poured into the collection, noting that her husband possessed a genuine appreciation for jewellery and drawing. Pointing to pieces shaped like monarch butterflies, honey, and honeycombs, Lonnie emphasized how closely the designs mirrored his life and resting place at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.
“She’s put a lot of care into this and attention to do homage to him, and I know he would be very, very grateful for the work that she has done,” Lonnie said. When asked about her preferred designs, she highlighted the butterfly for its personal resonance: “Whenever I see a butterfly, I think of him. I feel as though he’s there with me.”
By transforming historical reverence into wearable objects, McFarlane hopes the collection serves as tangible heritage. As Lonnie Ali summarized the purpose of the pieces: “That’s legacy. It’s heirloom.”
