Lili Bunten

A jewellery designer based in London.

While working an office job, she attended jewelry school and later, in 2023, established her own jewellery brand.

Many of her pieces are inspired by natural elements such as leaves, plants, and fruit, creating a strong allure for those who see them.

For this feature, we delved into her story behind jewellery making as well as her perspective and approach as a creator.

About the Beginning of your jewellery Making

I started making jewelry about three years ago. At that time, I was working a job where I spent all day in front of a computer, and my days felt quite boring.

I wanted an offline hobby that involved working with my hands,

I still vividly remember the feeling when I finished my first piece and held it in my hand.

It’s a bit philosophical, but I realized, “If I hadn’t made this, it wouldn’t exist.”

That feeling sparked my desire to continue making jewelry and eventually led me to turn it into a career.

In this digital age, creating physical objects with my own hands is very important to me and feels more authentic.

About the characteristics and appeal of your work

The jewellery that I am particularly drawn to plays with texture, transforming natural materials into wearable forms.

I would describe my work as organic and unique.

My goal is to create jewellery that people have never seen before.

One of my early pieces is a ring called the “Passion Ring,” which was made by casting the texture from the inside of a passion fruit. It holds a special place in my heart.

I love how the delicate texture on the top of the ring naturally blends into the smooth shape that curls around the finger, making it look like a single seamless piece.

What I aim for in all my pieces is a seamless beauty that shows no obvious beginning or end.

Your work has a unique beauty and worldview. Are there any special inspirations such as objects, experiences, or people that influence your creations?

I often draw inspiration from nature.

Being immersed in nature and discovering interesting textures and shapes greatly influences my creative process.

Recently, I’ve started beginning my work by sketching petals and leaves I’ve collected. This is a different approach for me, but it has definitely expanded the range of references for my jewellery.

This process allows me to play with and manipulate shapes and layering, rather than jumping straight into making a piece, which gives me more freedom and more options for expression.

As a jewelry designer, do you feel pressure to constantly create something new? How do you maintain yourself amid that pressure?

Of course, I do feel pressure, and it’s one of my biggest challenges.

In today’s world, where new trends emerge every day and we are exposed to a constant stream of content, this pace contrasts sharply with handmade jewelry, which can take weeks, months, or even years to complete. So, there’s not much point in just jumping on trends.

For example, I’m currently working on pieces that I’ve been making for over a year, but sometimes new ideas pop up, and focusing on those can extend the production time.

However, I think that’s just the natural flow of my creative process.

Even if I step away or lose interest for a while, I believe I will always come back to it when the time is right.

About London as your base

I have been living in London since I was about 13 years old.

There were times when I considered moving to another city for university and when I started making jewellery, but I chose to base myself in London.

Of course, London offers many opportunities, but even more than that, it is full of inspiration. There are always many free galleries and designer showcases to visit, which also helps me build connections in the industry and supports my own work.

Can you tell us about leaving your office job and starting your jewelry brand?

Honestly, when I left my office job, I felt more excitement than fear. It was definitely a risk, but for me, it was also the start of a new adventure.

I had a job at a company that ran jewelry workshops, so I wasn’t completely without income. My salary was much lower than before, but I understood that sacrifices were necessary to do what I loved.

That job suited me perfectly I was able to learn the essential skills for jewelry making on the job and also build connections with suppliers in Hatton Garden, who I still work with today.

At that time, I was living at home, which was a very privileged situation that allowed me to take on this new challenge.

Starting out in jewelry making was expensive tools and precious metals like silver and gold cost a lot.

The real fear hit about a year later, when I quit the workshop job to launch my own brand.

By then, I had moved out of my parents’ home, and the loss of a stable monthly income felt like a very real pressure.

At the same time, I had a strong feeling that if I didn’t do it then, I might never get the chance again. I knew I needed time to focus fully on my brand.

Deep down, I also knew that if things didn’t work out, I could always find work in a café or bar but thankfully, that wasn’t necessary.

Do you have any advice or a message for those who are eager to try something new but struggling to take that first step?

To be honest, I never initially planned to make this my career. What I would say is, if you enjoy something, just go with the flow and see where it takes you.

In the beginning, take every opportunity you can. By doing things, you’ll learn what you like, what you don’t, and how you want to work in the future.

Sometimes it’s important to take a leap of faith and see where you end up that in itself is a valuable experience.

Always remember that you have many options. Even if it doesn’t work out or you change your mind, you’ve gained insight simply by trying.