Q&a / Designer Lauren Khoo on 10 years of shaking up the jewellery business
- The Singapore-based creative known for quirky gummy bear pendants is moving on to more mature nature-inspired pieces
- She talks about the dichotomy between her ‘girlie’ LXK Fine Jewellery brand and the more traditionally elegant LaurenxKhoo line
Singapore-based jewellery designer Lauren Khoo made her name with luxe yet playful designs such as her semi-precious gummy bear pendants. Now she’s making waves with nature-inspired jewels that push the boundaries of design and craftsmanship.
How have you evolved as a jeweller in your 10 years in the business?
Everything has changed. In the early days it meant so much to be acknowledged by retailers like Moda Operandi, and I was also into experimenting. I was all over the place. Now I feel I have found my niche, which is about creating pieces that are driven by nature. I want my jewellery to age and evolve with my customer, so they can wear it beyond one season.
My subject matter has also taken on a whole new direction and I have found myself adding more to my Gaia collection [in Greek mythology, Gaia is the personification of Earth], which really showcases our evolution.
You’ve also launched a new brand. Why?
I realised that different collections were attracting different customers, so in April I launched LXK Fine jewellery, which represents the more girlie, cute part of me. It’s where you’ll find my original gummy bears in different materials such as jadeite, wood, chalcedony and mutton fat. Even the website has a much younger feel, and there’s no mention of me as the designer as I wanted to stay behind the scenes.
My other brand LaurenxKhoo is where you’ll find most of my fine jewellery. Jewellery to me should be elegant and traditional but also fun. I’ve really homed in on technical details and movement, while experimenting with textures and patterns to breathe life into my pieces. My jewellery is meant to be worn and not locked up in a safe somewhere.
What are some of your favourite designs?
I’m obsessed with florals, so I’ve created a series of floral earrings, but every pair is mismatched, with each earring featuring unexpected details. I also love the playful fruit series which includes artichoke studs where the leaves look as though they are falling off. I’ve created these very cool spiky studs covered in champagne diamonds inspired by the gac, a French fruit. My customers want something special, with personality.
