Small Talk ELSA ZHAO
The founder and designer behind Richandrare, named for its rich variety of designs featuring rare gemstones and skilled craftsmanship, shares her inspirations and advice on jewellery collecting
You studied science at university in Hong Kong: how did your transition to jewellery design come about, and are there any similarities between your artistic profession and your studies?
I grew up in an artistic family in Shanghai and have always been passionate about the arts. While I was studying environmental and civil engineering, I developed an interest in geology and was determined to start my career focusing on gemstones, sediments of the Earth grown over millions of years.
These studies were crucial to my later jewellery designs. My aim is to create unique and iconic pieces that obey the rules of nature and are always in balance. I am also a big fan of geometric lines and
Why did you choose Alice in
Wonderland as the design theme for your new Hong Kong flagship store in Wyndham Street?
Our previous boutique [on Lyndhurst Terrace] was a pioneer in floral decoration so we wanted to develop this. All of a sudden, the concept of
Alice in Wonderland jumped into my mind. The flowers in myriad vivid colours; the strange plants; the huge mushrooms; I could instantly imagine how the new boutique would look.
I feel a connection between the book and our new store. Not only do you see the jewellery, you also see the fantasy and the dreams behind them.
What advice would you give to a jewellery customer just starting to build their collection?
The concept of Richandrare is that jewellery is wearable art. It can also be part of one’s assets. Always trust your taste, and choose the items that you would love to wear, no matter how valuable the gemstones are, no matter how much you would like to treasure it. Don’t think too much; choose the piece you fall in love with at first sight and wear it.