Sunday Stephens Jewellery
Where did your passion for jewellery originate?
I became most passionate about jewellery when I started learning how to make it myself. Before that I loved wearing it and styling it but definitely not as into it as I am now. When I had uni online in 2020 I was so uninspired I decided to teach myself how to make rings from wax, from there I could design and interpret design ideas in my head in form. Then like everyone else who had a hobby in lockdown I became, OBSESSED.
How would you describe your new collection?
If the artist Yayoi Kusama and a vintage 80’s/90’s jeweller did a hot collab. Other than that vivid description I would say colour is the best way to describe this collection. No piece is left without a colourful stone or accent. I think once we all started buying again after we were locked down for so long the urge to buy something colourful, fun and original was more important. Who doesn’t want to be asked “Where did you get that from?”. Each piece can be worn day to day but also to special occasions, elevating an outfit by 110%.
What is your personal style, and how does it influence your designs?
I think my style changes all the time as I am only 20 years old and it’s exciting to try new styles out. After traveling this year I tried to wear my sample pieces everyday with different outfits and I started curating my outfit around which pieces I was wearing. I think wearing jewellery adds an extra level of care and class to an outfit especially if they are paired impeccably.
What's your favourite part of the jewellery-designing process?
I started by making the pieces myself out of my bedroom and then realised the designs that I wanted to make would take me years to learn how to craft perfectly so I teamed up with Martina and Agnes (my guardian angel mentors) that I must say, are very very patient. I would either make a rough piece and send it to them or design a piece and they would help me figure out how we could manufacture it as well as make it look the way I wanted it too practically and aesthetically. When we started out I had no idea what I was doing, but they were very patient and persistent helping me create my exact vision.
What was your biggest fear when going out and starting your own line?
When I deferred university and put money, time and effort into the brand, I was most scared that none of that time and effort would be worth it. But as I have learnt along the way you learn a lot from trying to start up a small business by yourself and it has been so far an exciting and rewarding experience. I’ve got to work with heaps of creative friends and people that I wouldn’t have worked with otherwise, and in the end if you’re not going to give something a go at twenty when are you going to give it a go, so I’m giving it a go.
What inspires you and inspires your work?
When traveling this year and seeing different kinds of jewellery in all different countries, especially in antique shops you realise how timeless jewellery styles are. I would take pictures of certain unusual pieces and then play on that with my own style, otherwise a lot of experimenting with wax leads to some pretty cool shapes and textures and once you’ve got one great base pieces it’s fun to create pieces that could go well with it.
How did you go putting together your first shoot?
The first shoot was a loooooong day but everyone there was so talented themselves so it was fun to be around that kind of talent and energy. I wanted to make sure that every detail was right, down to the nail colour matching the vision that I had, I spent weeks deciding on hair, clothing and makeup that I could style each piece with. It was funny creating a whole look around one ring or a pair of earrings, it was giving the piece's main character energy for sure. I invited friends and friends of friends to come and hang out too as it's nice for everyone to have someone they know in that kind of setting. I think I drank 4 red bulls and still went to sleep as soon as I got home.
What would you want your audience and customers to take from your collection?
I wanted to make jewellery that anyone can wear, something that makes them feel good and can elevate an outfit. If it does that then I’ve done my job.
What is your next step?
Well, I’ll see how the first collection goes and then from there I can see what people like and don’t like and try to keep designing and creating pieces that are something a bit different and exciting for people to wear and buy. I’ve got a few new designs in the works but am also learning how to become a better jeweler myself so I can become as skillful as Martina and Agnes, and help interpret my designs and ideas better. So it never stops really, I have to keep learning and designing.
Sunday Stephens is a 20 year old from Sydney, who has just lauched her self-titled jewellery brand, Sunday Stephens Jewellery. After dropping out of her university degree, Sunday embarked on a brand built off of her passion, with the hopes of inspiring people to make braver and more colourful choices in their lives.