Meet Hong Kong sisters Fiona and Sarah Zhuang, who turned an established jewellery business into something haute
The Zhuang sisters, Sarah and Fiona, co-founded jewellery brand Sarah Zhuang Jewellery. As the second generation in a jewellery family in Hong Kong, the sisters took inspiration from their mother who owned jewellery shops in Hong Kong for more than two decades. While Fiona Zhuang, a mother of three, handles the business side of things, Sara Zhuang is the creative director and designer of their brand.
Here are a few things you should know about them:
A family business
Fiona Zhuang was the first to join her mother’s jewellery business, Takfook Jewellery. Sarah later joined as a designer at Fiona’s insistence – even before she had any formal jewellery design training. They eventually took over the business after their mother retired. At one point, they discovered Sarah’s simple designs appealed to a younger audience than those attracted to Takfook. But it wasn’t until Sarah went to Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in Hong Kong that her commitment and creativity in jewellery design flourished, igniting her passion and setting her onto a course for a lifelong career. Soon, Sarah Zhuang Jewellery slowly emerged. In addition to co-founding the business with Sarah, Fiona continues on as Takfook’s executive director.
Design prowess
Although Sarah Zhuang took jewellery design courses in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Florence, she initially studied journalism at university and hoped to get into news broadcasting. She switched tracks, attended GIA and obtained a professional diploma from Hong Kong Design Institute. She also enrolled in the Accademia Riaci in Florence for jewellery design afterwards.
It would take Sarah two years to design her collection, drawing inspiration from the modern woman by incorporating versatility, functionality and contemporary chic into her pieces. Her brand is also the first to partner with Hong Kong’s first tourbillon brand, Memorigin Watch Company Limited, to create the Butterfly Rose Tourbillon Watch.
The business
The sisters opened their showroom in Concordia Plaza in Tsim Sha Tsui, with distributors in London’s Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge, Japan and China. The brand’s designs reflect modern femininity with a lot of the designs incorporating elements of nature such as flowers and butterflies. The versatility can be seen in many of its pieces but even more so in the Butterfly Rose Tourbillon Watch, which allows you to wear the combined components individually. In other words, you can turn your watch into a ring or a necklace.
The versatility the brand promotes is evident in its collection and there is no doubt that the Zhuang sisters are firmly making their mark in the Hong Kong’s jewellery design scene, as well as abroad.
Video By: STYLE in collaboration with Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide Academy and Hobbs International
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The sisters were inspired by their mother – who owned jewellery shops in Hong Kong for more than two decades – and created bespoke pieces and stunning collections