Fab French Fashion Jewellery

Known as Vero to her friends, VERONIQUE MANCHHARAM is a chic French-born expat and the creator of equally chic fashion jewellery brand Bohème. Her inspiring entrepreneurial story spans countless countries and cultures.

Where are you from originally?

I hail from beautiful Limoges in southwest-central France, home of the world-renowned porcelain. Like my ancestors before me, I was raised in a beautiful house built in 1793 in the French countryside. I deeply miss long walks in untouched nature with my family, so I feel very fortunate to return every summer.

You’re a bit of a global nomad – tell us about your journey to Singapore.

At 18, I moved to Barcelona and lived the bohemian lifestyle to the fullest. After marriage and just before the Gulf War, I moved to Dubai. During those busy, happy years I gave birth to my two beautiful daughters, opened an Asian art gallery, and became a teacher.

Following my then husband’s petroleum career, I enjoyed a two-year stint in Bangkok before moving to Singapore in 2001. The ten years from 2007 saw me living in incredible India with my current husband, where I had our son. As he’s Singaporean, we returned to his home base in 2017. With my daughters (and grandchild!) now in Canada and Australia, I’m still very much on the go, travelling the world for work and pleasure.

Describe the evolution of your brand Bohème.

My global adventures filled me with inspiration to create a jewellery collection reflecting authentic designs and styles of different cultures. This way, others could personally experience and indulge in my travels too. I started Bohème as a jewellery-making hobby in Thailand, and converted it into a business once I moved to India. India has majestic jewellery pieces, but I wasn’t able to bear their heavy weight, so I decided to create my own.

This dream became a reality once I discovered the incredible craftmanship of the artisans in Jaipur. They meticulously craft each piece with recycled, 18-karat gold-plated brass, and use ethical and responsible production methods. Sustainability and giving back to the natural landscapes that inspire my work have always been a top priority.

My first store was a small beach shop in Goa between Jade Jagger jewellery and the famous La Plage restaurant. Initially, I curated designers like Malini Ramani and Simone Irani, which led to me selling my pieces at Simone Irani shops in Singapore. Then I started doing fairs overseas in Hong Kong and Singapore, and knew I’d found my passion. Today I’m embracing the wonderful opportunities I find to work and base myself here.

What are your style influences?

My mother embodied timeless French elegance and was my earliest inspiration; she always expressed herself with stunning statement

jewellery pieces. My time in Barcelona surrounded by designers and artists developed my taste and creativity. Travelling throughout Asia further cultivated my own signature style and opened my eyes to the versatility of jewellery for both everyday and special occasion wear.

How has this journey of entrepreneurship been so far?

It was a difficult start as COVID struck the year after I left my job as a French teacher to live my passion. Nevertheless, this period allowed me to connect with so many beautiful ladies in Singapore looking for a bit of an escape and stunning earrings for their Zoom meetings! We met in my studio as restrictions permitted and communicated by video call. Creating this strong client base in Singapore gave me the courage to approach an agent in France. After those tough beginnings, my brand is now sold in Europe, the Middle East, all of Asia and the US.

Biggest career-defining moments?

In 2023, I collaborated with some incredible fashion designers including Eric Raisina for the Portugal Fashion Week, Yousef Akbar for the Sydney and Riyadh Fashion Weeks, and Lisa Von Tang for Milan Fashion Week. It was also thrilling and humbling to have my work featured at the Earth Shot Prize 2024 with British royalty in attendance. But my ultimate joy was seeing Sharon Stone wearing my brooches during the Saudi Arabia Red Sea International Film Festival, and my double Orchidea earrings when receiving the Global Citizen Of The Year Award at the United Nations Awards Gala in New York.

What does a typical working day look like for you?

Waking at 5am, I go for a 5km walk with my beagle at the Botanic Gardens or Gardens by the Bay. After a quick swim and breakfast with my son, I work from 8.30am to 3pm. I’m a soccer mum, but as my son’s getting older I’m finding I have more time. On days with activities or lunches I’ll work all evening creating new collections, working on look books and filling orders.

Any challenges you’ve found living and working in Singapore?

After living in Dubai in the early 90s, and ten years in India, Singapore feels like a smooth ride. As a PR married to a Singaporean I haven’t have to face any of the challenges I know many new expats do. Everything works seamlessly here, and I feel safe at all times – and these are very precious things.

Where in Singapore have you called home?

At first I lived in Seletar Camp, and loved the authentic atmosphere. I then moved with my girls to Chip Bee Gardens, which also had a community feeling. Relocating back from India, we moved to Fernhill Road next to Orange Grove where we are very lucky to own a two-storey place in a small, old condo. It has big rooms, lots of light and breeze, and a small pool facing the jungle – and it’s just 10 minutes from Orchard Road. We couldn’t be happier!

What are you looking forward to most for 2024?

Expanding my brand in the Middle East and the States, and seeing more beautiful souls wearing my jewellery! My aim is to make people feel empowered and confident while wearing my pieces. So this year I’m offering personalisation options for jewellery including silver and high-quality gold, and customisation of jewels and semi-precious stones. I’m also focusing on helping worthy local organisations like Fashion for Cancer.

If you’d like to meet Vero in person and admire a few of her fabulous pieces in the flesh, she’ll be greeting old customers and new faces at Boutiques Fair (26-28 April). She’ll officially be launching her new, sustainable, and first majorly silver collection Atlantis, so drop by and say bonjour!

Bohème is at 60 Fernhill Road, #01-03. WhatsApp 9776 7094 | IG & FB @bohemesg bohemesg.com