HOUSE OF RAJPUT
There is a lack of affordable luxury jewellery pieces that are statementmaking. - JIA RAJPUT
The brainchild of Jia Rajput, who founded the multi-label online platform out of her love for statement jewellery, House of Rajput is where emerging designers from around the world come together. “The idea of becoming a multi-label house for jewellery and accessories evolved over time after I spotted a gap in the market here,” the 33-year-old reveals. “There is a lack of affordable luxury jewellery pieces that are statementmaking.”
House of Rajput carries a dazzling array of intricate jewellery pieces that are crafted in limited batches and incorporate a variety of embellishments – beads, Swarovski crystals sourced from Austria, freshwater pearls, and semiprecious stones. There are even madeto-order embroidered designs, hand-sewn by skilled artisans, for a truly bespoke product.
What are the brands that you curate? Esme and Amama for glamorous nights out, and Ritika Sachdeva for that “boho-girl vibe” or an Indo-Western look that goes well with occasion wear. They are brands from India that are handcrafted by Indian karigars (artisans).
Does your personal taste influence your selections for House of Rajput?
Yes, definitely! It has been very rewarding for me to see likeminded people sharing the same sentiments in design and brand aesthetics.
Who do you look to for inspiration?
I enjoy seeing the styling by the team at Dylan Lex, a brand from Los Angeles known for its chunky, unorthodox jewellery pieces. I resonate with its brand message to be a non-conformist in terms of finding your own style. I love the fact that a piece of jewellery is something that you can use to amplify your personal style and voice.
What are your favourite pieces? Aine and Maremoon’s Bermuda blue dangling multi-way earrings are my favourite. I also love my Makshi Necklace II because it goes well with any outfit. Although it’s heavily embellished, it’s super lightweight and easy to wear.
Why pom-poms, specifically?
Owners of small businesses like mine tend to pour their heart and soul into creating their pieces, and this human touch is something that can’t really be replicated through massproduced items. - NADHIRAH SHUKOR
Dreamt up during the pandemic by graphic designer Nadhirah Shukor, Late To The Party (LTTP) is a passion project that turned into a business. Fuelled by her creative spirit and a love for craft, this accessory brand embodies feelgood kitsch with its signature pom-pom earrings.
It all started from a skein of yarn that she picked up to experiment with. Says the 27-year-old: “I’ve always loved big and loud accessories, but having sensitive skin never really allowed me to wear them. I started LTTP with the intention of creating fully customisable earrings suitable for sensitive skin that I can and would love to wear!”
The brand has since garnered a loyal customer base, and Nadhirah plans to expand her collections to include beaded accessories.
What are you inspired by?
I’m heavily influenced by pop culture from the ’90s to the early 2000s. Having experienced growing up in an old-school environment and then advancing in the digital age, I like that I get to pick and choose elements from both eras to draw references from.
I actually started my craft journey years ago with the intention of learning punch needling, but I sucked at that! I didn’t know what to do with all the excess yarn, so I looked to other forms of yarn craft. The process of making pom poms is so therapeutic. It felt like I had discovered the craft at the perfect point in my life, and so I kept on practising.
Tell us more about your bestsellers. One of my bestsellers is definitely the eyeball earrings that I made for Halloween. I guess people love them because they’re a little bit morbid, but also pretty cute.
As an entrepreneurial accessory designer, what is the Singapore market like for accessories that are not massproduced?
I would say that the market is growing very healthily as the local community has been more receptive in the past couple of years. Owners of small businesses like mine tend to pour their heart and soul into creating their pieces, and this human touch is something that can’t really be replicated through mass-produced items. Personally, I love supporting small businesses because of this. Every time I open a parcel from one, I feel like I’m taking a peek into the mind of the maker, and understanding their thought process through the smallest details.