The Power of Jewellery

Choosing to specialise in jewellery, I moved to Belgium and spent 6 months studying their Jewellery Design course. This is where my eyes were opened to the world of contemporary jewellery and also how I became struck with wanderlust! This would be the beginning of what would later turn out to inspire my jewellery collections. I was so inspired by the tutors there, many of them being experts in their fields of contemporary jewellery. Having discussions with them pushed me to think outside the box when it came to designing and making a piece of jewellery. Space in the workshop was limited which naturally forced me to look for alternative materials to work with. I started to recycle offcuts of wood, fabrics and plastics to create wearable sculptures.

After attending Schmuck (the world’s oldest contemporary jewellery fair) in Germany, I realised how diverse jewellery was. I also felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of jewellery there, quickly realising that it might be a difficult industry to stand out in. The exhibition catalogue that year had a feature about the manifestation of the real power of jewellery which I was drawn to instantly. I became fascinated in the ways that jewellery created an impression:

• as a way to express one’s identity

• intimacy in personal relations

• body adornment

• pleasure in decoration

• the expression of things that matter in life, and

• association with memory

Inside the Commercial Industry

Excitement overpowered the hesitations I had about competition in the industry. So, arriving back to the UK, I graduated in 2010, going on to spend 10 years in the commercial jewellery field, including experience in retail and as a bench jeweller. (That means I have experience in repairing old jewellery pieces as well as making adjustments to new items to fit the individual. I enjoyed the challenge of repairing old and loved pieces of jewellery which have been treasured through the years. It was uplifting hearing the stories people shared and having the ability to bring the sparkle back to their jewellery so that it could continue to be worn everyday.)

But there were parts of that work I didn’t enjoy too; I started to become less confident, less creative and more worn down. I didn’t agree with many aspects of the job, starting to realise that it wasn’t how I imagined it would be. There was a focus on quantity instead of quality; many newly cherished items were not well-crafted and made to last, making them difficult to repair. It was an environment where I wasn’t learning, felt undervalued and soon realised that I was just another number that could be easily replaced when I voiced my concerns. Beginning to feel frustrated, I knew from this experience that I was done with working in the commercial industry and had a lightbulb moment.

Establishing Laconic

I knew I could create a business with more purpose: making jewellery that’s well-crafted, made to last and sustainable, without literally costing the Earth. With my background in design, I knew there was an opportunity for you to have something more tailored and customised, with a story to tell, to express your true self, connecting you with the people and places that are special to you.

I’ve always felt that jewellery is an easy way to instantly update any outfit. And for me, this is so much easier than playing around with fashion styles to express myself more freely. I’ve never been a fan of overly feminine jewellery and aim to create pieces which are bold and minimal but with maximum impact.

The slow-made approach within my work allows for items to be tailored and customised even more according to the individual. This could be adapting designs to create something bespoke or simply by creating items in a different metal, such as gold, or with a different finish. Each piece has been designed with sustainability and responsibility in mind.

 

Would you like something bespoke to express yourself or celebrate a special moment? Please get in touch. Let’s tell your story and bring your ideas to life.