Finding Perfection In The Imperfect Gets Easier With This S’porean Jeweler

Wabi Sabi & Me is a far from a mere jewellery company – they offer a unique experience. You can get custom-made earrings, malas, rings, necklaces and bracelets made by expert artisans here. In fact, you can even learn to make them yourself!

I got in touch with Rebecca Lai – the founder of Wabi Sabi & Me to know more about this unique initiative. Rebecca is a GIA (Gemological Institute of America)-certified gemologist who has been in the jewellery and gems industry for decades.

She has worked across different countries, including New York, Bangkok and Singapore. Along with her husband, she co-founded Wabi Sabi & Me to take the whole jewellery experience several notches higher.

“Everything we make is handcrafted so there will be ‘imperfections’ in each piece. Also, we use mostly natural gemstones which have ‘imperfections’, making them unique and special in our eyes”, Rebecca says as she explains the concept behind Wabi Sabi.

The Journey

Rebecca always knew that she wanted to pursue this as a profession. “I actually had a design background before going to the GIA to become a gemologist.” She believes that her time in Manhattan exposed her to some of the most amazing experiences in her career.

“New York is the center of the jewellery world so it was very educational – you are exposed to things there that you just wouldn’t see anywhere else.”

“Through my work, I have had the opportunity to deal in and see up close some extremely rare pieces of jewellery, art, and antiques,” she explains. After studying and understanding gemology, Rebecca came back to Singapore to become a full-time jewellery designer.

Her husband, whom she met in New York, handles the technical aspects of jewellery making at Wabi Sabi & Me. Rebecca reveals that her husband had been apprenticing as a jeweller since he was a teen. Their common interest in gems and jewellery brought them together.

“We have a creative and collaborative partnership. It’s a blessing to have someone with whom you have this symbiotic relationship, especially if he’s your husband!”

While she handles designing and selection of gems and other materials, he engineers the components together to make great pieces of jewellery.

Experimenting With New Materials

Another thing that strikes me about Wabi Sabi & Me is that they do not restrict themselves in technique and materials. “We love to work with unusual materials, like our latest porcelain collection,” exclaims Rebecca.

She tells me that the idea of using porcelain in jewellery has intrigued them for many years.

“Pieces of porcelain can be set into metal and used as if they were gemstones – an idea always in the back of our minds but needed the right moment to be born.”

With the release of the porcelain range recently, Rebecca also experimented with antique porcelain to make figurines and pieces. “I like to make things that are delightful and fanciful, filled with colour, and use a western design eye towards traditional Chinese motifs” she says.

She reveals that the brand produces sustainable handicraft, and explains that since most of their work is done in-house, they are very conscientious about recycling and sourcing from responsible suppliers.

Workshops

Wabi Sabi & Me is also known for conducting workshops extensively.

“Our goal in giving workshops is to spread a sense of joy and creativity in others. It’s very rewarding to work with your hands and see something come alive before your eyes – an aspect that may be missing in modern lives,” Rebecca muses.

She believes that creative workshops are a great outlet and team building exercise for corporate teams. “For example: if you’re getting married, getting your bridesmaids together and making a pair of earrings for all to wear at the wedding would be such a nice thing to do,” she suggests.

Hence, they conduct workshops often, to provide not only a creative retreat but also to take away something actually made by them. This also fulfils their objective of creating awareness about the craft.

She says that the possibilities are endless, and that is why they love doing private or corporate events as well. Thinking outside of the box to come up with original ideas for a party or theme is fun and rewarding for the company.

“It’s been a whirlwind, honestly. It’s been all happy and unforgettable from the get-go and I’m so grateful for all our customers who see us and appreciate what we do by supporting us and our mission.”

To order a unique piece or to attend their next workshop, click here.