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A Sentimental Journey

Date: 01-12-2022
Success Story

 

Julz Swales

Julz Swales’ passion for designing and making jewellery flourished during her time at Unitec NZ, where she successfully achieved a Bachelor’s Degree. She leant towards the contemporary craft classes where she was introduced to silversmithing. Julz was mentored by some of New Zealand’s most prolific contemporary jewellers and was recognised for her natural talent in fabricating adornments using traditional and modern jewellery techniques.

Julz established her first studio at home in a classic Kiwi garage, with the bare minimum of tools including a jeweller’s saw, a flexible shaft and an old butane torch for soldering. Julz reflects, “Initially jewellery making was more of a hobby alongside my main design studies where I made customised sterling silver jewellery for friends and whānau.”

Over the last 10 years as Julz has built upon her jewellery making skills and expanded her workshop. She has experimented with combining different materials other than silver, namely native timber. Julz says, “Because my father was a builder, I had ready access to a variety of timbers. I began to incorporate their natural beauty into my jewellery designs. I love how each piece of wood holds different characteristics such as the grain, knots and colour tone, ensuring the uniqueness of each piece.”

During the first infamous Covid lockdown Julz took the opportunity to accelerate her jewellery practise and officially launched her jewellery business ‘Sentiment Jewellery’. She determined a niche, inspired by not only the materials themselves, but also by our urban and natural surroundings. Julz elaborates, “I want to capture the sentiment of the New Zealand environment. Everything from the rugged mountain ranges, through to our architectural periods are of inspiration. The colours, textures and natural forms offer endless potential.”

Julz only uses reclaimed timber, offering a new lease of life to the material. She says, “Wood ages gracefully and my favourites include fallen Mānuka, milling offcuts of 1,000 year old Kauri and Pūriri sourced from demolished NZ Villas. The use of tinted eco-resin brings a synthesis of traditional and contemporary materials. I love how the resin encapsulates the timber’s grain and shards that are distinct in my design aesthetic. Accents of handmade sterling silver bails and bezels bring all mediums together.”

Over the past year Julz has grown her business substantially. She explains, ”A focus on digital marketing has led to orders heading out to both local and international customers.”

The future is justifiably bright for Julz and Sentiment Jewellery.

Connect with Julz at:
Instagram
Website

Julz Swales    Julz Swales

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