Dab Hand: 3 Homegrown Artisanal Jewellery Brands To Know Now

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come.” So reads the verse in the Book of Proverbs that homegrown label 3125 gets its name and inspiration from. Six years ago, LASALLE graduate Caroline Goh turned her school project into an independent enterprise with the aim of instilling confidence in other women through the medium of jewellery. Sourcing materials like natural gemstones and freshwater pearls from Southeast Asia, Japan and China, Caroline crafts every item by hand in her studio along Jalan Sultan, with designs built around themes such as fruit, flowers, seashells and the like.

Made with upcycled glass beads and pearls gathered during Caroline’s wanderings overseas, the new YOU line comprises one-off creations in buoyant shades, each necklace reflecting the unicity of its wearer, while the refreshed Charms & Hoops collection features petite pendants of differing shapes and semi-precious stones that can be threaded onto earrings for an extra dash of fun. What’s more, 3125 donates 10 per cent of all proceeds to Tamar Village, a non-profit that supports youth at risk in Singapore, so you’ll look good and do good at the same time.

In an era of commercialisation and mass production, local jeweller Stelliyah (a sobriquet of founder Stella Lim) stands out from the crowd — head and shoulders above, in fact. Unwavering in its commitment to uphold artisanal traditions, the brand melds age-old metalsmithing techniques with thoughtful design to propose unorthodox alternatives to typical bling. Assiduously forged by Lim herself in a workshop in Joo Chiat, Stelliyah’s accoutrements take cues from diverse ethnic cultures around the world and across the centuries, including the ancient Etruscans, the Indigenous Peoples and the Tuaregs of North Africa.

Latterly, Lim has introduced a series of truly one-of-a-kind rings and earrings in sterling silver and coloured gemstones like pink sapphire and emerald, where she crafts only one edition of each style for sale. Besides these singular pieces, Stelliyah also fashions custom engagement rings and wedding bands, infused with a rustic feel, for the couples that dare to go off the beaten path.

Envet’s moniker is derived from an African word that loosely translates as “something bold”, which pretty much sums up what you need to know about this promising young label. Prompted by local designer Anita Rusli’s adventures abroad, particularly in Istanbul, the brand’s statement-making jewellery is a jaunty mélange of lively hues, quirky motifs and meticulous handiwork, captured in 925 silver, colourful beads and keshi pearls.

Key to the Envet aesthetic is the “Evil Eye” symbol, an ocular amulet dating back several millennia that is believed to ward off the malevolent gaze of an adversary, and is widely found across the Levant and the Mediterranean. Materialising as diminutive gold-plated charms and teardrop-shaped beads, the “Evil Eye” appears on handcrafted tassel earrings and multi-purpose strands that can be adapted into necklaces, bracelets, anklets, belly chains or mask chains.

Recognising the urgency of advancing an eco-conscious approach, Envet recently launched the 2nd Life project, in which the bits and bobs left over from experimental prototypes are repurposed to create entirely new, exclusive trinkets, thus mitigating its environmental impact. It also dovetails with the company’s existing Eco-Wrap initiative, whereby customers can opt for green packaging made of biodegradable coconut shell, bamboo and eceng gondok — talk about a win-win situation.