Coming from an artistic family that includes a renowned architect and a sculptor, Taiwanese jewellery designer Cindy Chao has always had a passion for art and design.
'Initially, I wanted to pursue interior design at college in the US, however my mother convinced me to try my hand at jewellery design instead,' Chao says.
Following her mother's advice, Chao studied jewellery design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and also received her certification from the Gemological Institute of America.
In 2004, Chao returned to Taipei and launched her own line of jewellery. Boasting a celebrity clientele that includes Taiwanese actresses Kelly Lin Hsi-lei and Shu Qi as well as action star Jackie Chan (who buys pieces for his wife), Cindy Chao jewellery is now available in Hong Kong exclusively at Lane Crawford. The designer describes her aesthetic as 'extravagant yet pure, traditional and yet modern'.
Frequently using materials such as jade, coloured diamonds, in particular black diamonds, semi-precious stones and precious metals such as black gold, Chao draws upon her heritage and the artistic upbringing fostered by her family when it comes to design.
'To me, jewellery is all about art and I enjoy working with different concepts, adding 3D elements and playing with colours - like an artist painting,' she says.
The designer also works to fuse the divergent culture of her upbringing with the western influences of her education to create jewellery that is a blend of both.
