Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber’s recent flaunting of abstract earrings from the Singaporean jewellery brand, Thing In Itself, marked a significant milestone for the label.
Founded by Xin Chua in 2019, the brand has gained recognition for its strikingly organic forms and unique silhouettes crafted from recycled sterling silver and 18K gold vermeil, with prices starting at US$125. The brand’s pieces have garnered praise from Hollywood’s elite stylists, with Chua expressing her surreal experience of seeing celebrities adorn her designs.
She mentioned, “[American country singer] Maren Morris even performed in our earrings, which felt like a stamp of approval – it meant the piece had to be both well-crafted and well-designed.”
Chua’s journey into jewellery design stemmed from her background as a graphic designer, seeking to transition from 2D digital visuals to tangible artistry. She recalled, “I wanted to create something that I could wear,” emphasizing her shift towards crafting 3D objects digitally before launching Thing In Itself with her husband, Aaron Wong.
Their collaborative efforts led to the brand’s inception, with Wong managing operations to allow Chua to immerse herself fully in the creative process alongside their design studio business.
Unlike traditional jewellery designers who begin with hand-drawn sketches, Chua conceptualizes her pieces directly using 3D modelling software, leveraging 3D printing for precise prototyping before metal casting. Her designs embrace biomorphic and amorphous forms, drawing inspiration from a diverse range of influences.
Chua adopts a playful approach to naming her creations, eschewing conventional mood-based titles for plain descriptors like Blob, Spiral, and Gather, reflecting her belief in allowing wearers to interpret each piece personally.
Chua’s jewellery continuously evolves, with each piece inspiring the next in a seamless morphing process that maintains the brand’s signature aesthetic of fluid, exaggerated curves. Her creations, such as the Blob Hoop Earrings and Indent Ball series, are laden with personal meaning and cultural references, showcasing the depth of her design philosophy.
Despite facing challenges within the jewellery industry, including difficulties in finding manufacturers willing to bring her intricate designs to life, Chua’s perseverance and artistic vision have propelled Thing In Itself to international recognition.
With a growing global following and features on high-profile personalities like Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber, Thing In Itself stands as a testament to Chua’s creative ingenuity and dedication to unique, wearable art.
As Chua envisions expanding the brand’s presence worldwide while maintaining a balance with her design studio, the future of Thing In Itself seems promising, with potential ventures into incorporating gemstones and sparkly elements into her future collections.
