HANDCRAFTED JEWELRY
DESIGNER
My name is Sam, I’m a jewelry designer with a passion for all things anthropology and jewelry. The idea of this line was born out of a long familial tradition of creating wearable art, but also a desire to infuse indigenous aesthetics and craftmanship into modern silhouettes.
My interest in native aesthics came about during my undergraduate years at NYU, where I studied anthropology and design. Through my studies in anthropology, I learnt about the beauty and diversity in different indigenous aesthetics, something I didn't see in mainstream fashion/jewelry.
​
This studying led me to do a year abroad in Bali, where I tried to really reconnect with my spouses Chinese Indonesian heritage. It’s for this reason that all our designs celebrate the multiculturalism and cross-strait relationships of Southeast Asia and are carved with traditional Patra Cina (translating to “Chinese Pattern”), which you can read more about here.
SUSTAINABILITIY
In the hopes of combating the negative effects of mass production, namely waste and poor quality, my company champions the use of recycled materials and slow-fashion (as opposed to fast-fashion).
​
The primary materials used are cow bone and buffalo horn, sustainably sourced from the livestock/food production process. Within the meat production cycle, 60% of the animal becomes abattoir waste. In the United States alone, this “deadstock” amounts to 1.4 billion tons of waste each year and has to be disposed off or recycled.
These materials are obtained through partnerships with food production facilities. Once the buffalo bone and horn are received, they are expertly sanitized and prepared to be carved.
