Emma Hadley’s collection of exquisite handmade jewellery is lovingly handcrafted with high quality 99.9% pure fine silver combined with beautiful gemstones. Today we chat to Emma and find out more about her ideas, inspirations and what’s coming next!
SM: How did you start you business and what led you to this career path?
EH: Design and crafts, fashion and jewellery, always have been a massive part of my life. I had an exciting career, as a Fashion Buyer, following university. But when I got made redundant I decided to take the skills I had learnt and make a positive change to build something of my own. And so I turned to jewellery design. As soon as I started a course I fell in love and dedicated every moment to fine tuning my skills. I realised my little dream of starting my own brand could come true when I found people wanted to buy my jewellery.
SM: Who and/or what inspires your designs?
EH: Nature and people are my biggest influences although there is inspiration in absolutely everything.
I’m a city girl with a big green heart; I love the detail and textures in nature so I bring this in to my designs in a whimsical sense. And people; every personalised piece I have designed has had a special person in mind, I love being able to offer something truly unique and individual that will mean a lot to the wearer.
SM: How do you go about coming up with new designs?
EH: I don’t often sit down to specifically design, unless I have a theme I want to work on, or I’m starting a new commission, in which case I get out all my materials and gemstones and start sketching and making. Ideas continuously pop in to my head and the tricky part is getting them committed to paper before they disappear!
SM: Describe your working environment, what surrounds you, how do you work?
EH: I have a workshop and office set up in spare rooms at home, and I’m back a forth between my workbench and computer. I like to make jewellery with music on as I get completely absorbed, but when I’m on the computer I have a view of the garden and the birds singing to listen to. My dog often pops in to say hello (and check I’m not eating any food he might miss out on) and goes to sleep at my feet.
SM: What would be your perfect home? Where would it be and what would you put in it?
EH: My house at the moment is pretty close; city life with lots of greenery close by, and a garden with a lot’s of flowers and a vegetable patch. However, my perfect home would have a purpose built studio with lots of space and natural light, and my rooms would be filled with quirky, one off, handmade items. I like a home that shows the personality of the people who live there, instead of looking like a show home for a mass-market retailer.
SM: What is your favourite product from your collection?
EH: I wear all my own jewellery so this is hard, but my all time favourite is the Guardian Angel necklace. It’s one of the most time consuming, fiddly pieces to make, but it feels beautiful and completely unique when I wear it, it also gets the most compliments.
SM: Putting you on the spot, what is your favourite Swanky Maison product, other than from your collection and why?
EH: There are so many gorgeous things on Swanky Maison but I have to say the glass hanging vases from Maggie Williams. I love the colours, and fluid design; they are simply stunning!
SM: Finally, what do you have in store for us in the future, are you working on any news designs/products our readers might be interested in?
EH: There is a lot more to come on the personalised jewellery, including something for the men. I’ll also be extending my nature inspired range with more winged designs.
