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Born and raised in Australia, sisters Shen-Tel and Elizabeth Lee named their label Bowerhaus after the Australian Bowerbird. The most notable characteristic of bowerbirds is their unique courtship behaviour where the male bowerbird will spend hours fanatically collecting shells, leaves, flowers, coins, and even discarded pieces of plastic or stones to create a bower worthy of attracting a female mate. Likewise the Lee sister’s are utterly obsessed with collecting beautiful trinkets from all over the world, decided that it was time to put their mark into their obsession. Inspired by their father’s vintage coins and mother’s pearls they design with materials that they source from all over the globe. Old world charm and understated confidence are all the hallmarks of Bowerhaus.
www.bowerhaus.com.au
Photographer - Wilson Vong Hair - Jacqueline Chang Makeup - Hui Nee Location - Four Points by Sheraton Kuching
Keishi Each Bowerhaus Keishi pearl is unique. We have christened it the rebel pearl for its individuality of playful shape and lustre.
Hubert Keishi Pearl with Black & White Cracked Agate
Left - Alfie - Keishi Pearl & Coral Logs with 24K Gold Plated Clasp Right - Bobby - Keishi Pearl & Red Coral with 24K Gold Plated Clasp
Left - Barnaby - Keishi Pearl & Mixed Agate with 24K Gold Plated Clasp Right - Barney - Keishi Pearl & Mixed Agate with 24K Gold Plated Clasp
Left - Victor - Keishi Pearl & Light Labradorite with Rhodium Plated Clasp Right - Oliver - Keishi Pearl & Blue Vein Agate with Rhodium Plated Clasp
Top - Christopher - Keishi Pearl & Amethyst with 24K Gold Plated Clasp Bottom - Fabio - Keishi Pearl & Rose Quartz with 24K Gold Plated Clasp
Top - Jacob - Keishi Pearl & Turquoise with Rhodium Plated Clasp Middle - Harvey - Keishi Pearl & Green Cracked Agate with Rhodium Plated Clasp Bottom - Benjamin - Keishi Pearl & Aquamarine with Rhodium Plated Clasp
baroque Baroque pearls are highly prized for their elaborate shapes, irregularities and characteristic blemishes.
Kermit Baroque Pearl & Fluro Green Agate with 24K Gold Plated Clasp
Edward - Baroque Pearl & Lapis with 24K Gold Plated Clasp Theodore - Baroque Pearl & Jadeite with Rhodium Clasp Lorenzo - Baroque Pearl & Frosted Green Cracked Agate with Rhodium Clasp Kermit - Baroque Pearl & Fluro Green Agate with 24K Gold Plated Clasp
Top - Hugo - Baroque Pearl & Tangerine Cracked Agate with Rhodium Clasp Middle - Costa - Baroque Pearl & Polished Sandstone with 24K Gold Plated Clasp Bottom - Austin - Baroque Pearl & Agate with 24K Gold Plated Clasp
Left - Ayman - Baroque Pearl & Lapis with 24K Gold Plated Clasp Right- Frederick - Keishi Pearl & Dark Barrelled Labradorite with 24K Gold Plated Clasp
Left - Thoma - Baroque Pearl & Venetian Beads with Rhodium Clasp Right - Troy - Baroque Pearl & Hematite with Rhodium Clasp
two up The odds are always with you!
Rupert Rhodium Bowerhaus Coins & Black Cracked Agate
Left- Angelo - Rhodium Bowerhaus Coins & Green Agate Middle - Malcolm - Rhodium Bowerhaus Coins & Blue/Green Aventurine Right - Jeremy - Rhodium Bowerhaus Coins & Moss Agate
Top- Drew - Rhodium Bowerhaus Coins & Turquoise Bottom - Charles - Rhodium Bowerhaus Coins & Light Blue Agate
Top- Charlie - Rhodium Bowerhaus Coins & Light Blue Agate Bottom - Chuck - Rhodium Bowerhaus Coins & Navy Agate
Left - Oscar - Rhodium Bowerhaus Coins & Hematite Stars Middle - Ryan - Rhodium Bowerhaus Coins & Hematite Mini Ball Beads Right - Rupert - Rhodium Bowerhaus Coins & Black Cracked Agate
bowerhaus Inspired by the Bowerbird we have travelled the world and back to present you with our collection of our greatest finds.
Ethan 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charms with Tiger Eye
Left- Owen - 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charms with Red Coral Right - Archie - 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charms with Red Agate
Left- MontĂŤ - 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charms with Hot Pink Agate Right - Luke - 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charms with Rose Quartz
Left - Ra - 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charms with Yellow Agate Middle - Nicholas - 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charms with Coral Right - Sam - 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charms with Tangerine Agate
Left - Christopher Jr - 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charms with Amethyst Middle - Alexander - 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charms with White Freshwater Pearls Right - Alex - 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charms with Oyster Freshwater Pearls
Left - Eddie - 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charms with Tiger Eye Middle - Ethan - 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charms with Tiger Eye Right - Lee - 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charms with Rutilated Quartz
trio Good things really do come in threes!
Austin Trio Agate with 24K Gold Plated Coins, Baroque and Freshwater Pearls
Left - Christopher Trio- Amethyst with 24K Gold Plated Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls Middle - Edward Trio - Lapis with 24K Gold Plated Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls Right - Kermit - Hot Green Agate with 24K Gold Plated Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls
Left - Barnaby Trio - Mixed Agate with 24K Gold Plated Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls Middle - Costa Trio - Polished Sandstone with 24K Gold Plated Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls Right - Ayman Trio - Lapis with 24K Gold Plated Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls
Top - Bob Trio - Coral with 24K Gold Plated Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls Middle - Alfie Trio - Coral with 24K Gold Plated Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls Bottom - Bobby Trio - Red Coral with 24K Gold Plated Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls
Top - Austin Trio - Agate with 24K Gold Plated Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls Middle - Lincoln Trio - Hot Pink Cracked Agate with 24K Gold Plated Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls Bottom - Fabio Trio - Rose Quartz with 24K Gold Plated Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls
Left - Francis Trio - Rock Crystal with Rhodium Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls Middle - Elliot Trio - Matte Onyx with Rhodium Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls Right - Hubert Trio - Black Cracked Agate with Rhodium Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls
Left - Troy Trio- Hematite with Rhodium Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls Middle - Victor Trio - Labradorite with Rhodium Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls Right - Thoma Trio - Venetian Glass with Rhodium Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls
Top - Jacob Trio - Turquoise with Rhodium Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls Middle - Oliver Trio - Blue Vein Agate with Rhodium Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls Bottom - Paolo Trio - Agate with Rhodium Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls
Top - Harvey Trio - Cracked Green Agate with Rhodium Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls Middle - Theodore Trio - Jadeite with Rhodium Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls Bottom - Lorenzo Trio - Frosted Green Agate with Rhodium Coins, Baroque & Freshwater Pearls
GOLD All that glitters is gold.
Maximus - 18K Gold Plated 925 Silver with Natural Gemstones & Baroque Pearls Max - 18K Gold Plated 925 Silver with Natural Gemstones & Baroque Pearls Gemstones: Citrine, Peridot, Amethyst, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Ruby, Jade, Moonstone White Topaz, Rose Quartz & Aquamarine
Caesar 18K Gold Plated 925 Silver Shepherd Hooks with Baroque Pearls Gemstones available (Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine & Peridot)
Left -Julius - 18K White Gold Plated 925 Silver with White Topaz & Baroque Pearls Right - Julius- 18K Gold Plated 925 Silver with Yellow Sapphire & Baroque Pearls
G’Day Mr. T - 24K Gold Plated Nuggets
Cornelius Freshwater Pearls with 24K Gold Plated Clasp
Mr. Knightley Keishi Pearls with 24K Gold Plated Clasp.
Left- Mr. Dashwood - Golden Keishi Pearls with 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charm and Clasp Right - Mr. Bingley - White Keishi Pearls with 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charm and Clasp
Left- Bingley Jr. - Keishi Pearls with 24K gold plated Bowerhaus Charm and Clasp Middle - Mr. Bingley - Keishi Pearls with 24K gold plated Bowerhaus Charm and Clasp Right - Bingley Jr. - Keishi Pearls with Rhodium Bowerhaus Charm and Clasp
Left - Mr. Bennett Jr. - Freshwater Pearls with Rhodium Plated Clasp Right - Mr. Bennett Jr. - Freshwater Pearls with 24K Gold Plated Clasp
Top - Bingley Bracelet - Baroque Pearls with 24K Gold Plated Clasp Bottom - Bingley Bracelet - Baroque Pearls with Rhodium Plated Clasp
Harry - Baroque shaped Pearl Earrings with Black Diamonds embedded in Black Gold
Golden Rutilated Quartz Co-Founder Shen-Tel Lee first spotted this gemstone on a trip to Hong Kong. When she enquired about the price of the gemstone, the shop owner took out a scale and weighed it. The hefty price sent Shen-Tel bolting out the door. She walked away only to be haunted repeatedly by the gemstone. Months later she returned with her sister Elizabeth Lee to view the gemstone. The glowing needles of gold thread throughout the stone mesmerized them both and they bought matching bracelets with all their savings and it became their favourite item. It wasn’t until Shen-Tel travelled to Malaysia years later where she learned about its spiritual and positive powers. The stone is very popular amongst the Chinese as it is believed to be a protector against misfortune. It is said that if harm is bestowed onto the wearer the bracelet or necklace will break. As this gemstone is a protector the owner must treat it with utmost respect. The wearer must not share their bracelet or necklace with anyone else once it has been worn. The stone must be re-threaded to restore its protective powers, if it has been worn by someone who is not the rightful owner.
Top - Lee - Rutilated Quartz with 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charm Middle - Ho - Rutilated Quartz with 24K Gold Plated Bowerhaus Charm Bottom - Ting - Rutilated Quartz with Rhodium Plated Bowerhaus Charm
silver Every cloud has a silver lining
Sir Elton
Louis Trio Silver Beads with Bowerhaus Minted Coins & a single Freshwater Pearl
Left- Star Bracelet - Mother of Pearl Stars with Rhodium chain and a single Freshwater Pearl Middle- Buttons Bracelet - Mother of Pearl Buttons with Rhodium chain and a single Freshwater Pearl Right - Lucky Eye Bracelet - Mother of Pearl Lucky Eyes with Rhodium chain and a single Freshwater Pearl
Top - Lucky Eye Necklace- Mother of Pearl Eyes with Rhodium chain and a single Freshwater Pearl Middle - Star Necklace- Mother of Pearl Stars with Rhodium chain and a single Freshwater Pearl Bottom- Buttons Necklace - Mother of Pearl Buttons with Rhodium chain and a single Freshwater Pearl
Mickey - Freshwater Pearls with a Rhodium Bowerhaus Coin Colours available ( Shocking Pink, Light Purple, Yellow, Tangerine, Willow )
Bradley - Silver Coloured Beads with Baroque and Freshwater Pearls
Bowerhaus Silver Nail Foils (Available in Silver or Gold)
mad about the boy Men’s Accessories
Collar Stays
Baroque Pearl shaped Bowerhaus Cufflinks Available in Rhodium or 24K Gold Plated
Pocket Scarf - Collar Stays - Journal
Mother of Pearl Corsage with Bowerhaus Coin
the rabbit & the dog The sisters behind Bowerhaus Elizabeth & Shen-Tel Lee Much can be revealed about the truth behind Chinese Zodiac animals. Born in the year of the Rabbit, 24-year-old Elizabeth Lee enjoys being surrounded by family and friends and has a compassionate and gentle nature. Her older sister 29 year old Shen-Tel Lee was born in the year of the Dog and is enthusiastic and passionate about family and friends due largely to her caring and nurturing personality.
Elizabeth Lee
T
h e sisters were born and raised in Sydney Australia and although they went to a German School and lived a very Aussie lifestyle of backyard BBQ’s and weekends at country fairs, the girls always upheld their Asian cultural heritage. They credited their mother and father Dr. Lincoln and Betty Lee for sharing and celebrating events like Chinese New Year and Old Souls Day with them. The sisters enjoyed decorating their home at Centennial Park, Sydney for the biggest event on the Chinese calendar, which is the Chinese New Year celebration. Elizabeth shares “The main dish for the day we named Australian Yee Sang. It is basically a giant salad with vegetables and fruits plus all the freshest seafood, seeds and nuts. The day starts early with the whole family slicing, cutting and chopping all the 50 ingredients. Both of us would take turns each year to arrange the ingredients creatively on a huge round platter. The best part of the tradition is when our family and friends gather together to toss the Yee Sang with chopsticks. It is this meticulous care for tradition that binds the Lee family together. Shen-Tel comments, “We are definitely a family that loves being in each others company. Some may view it as suffocating but for us it is the best feeling. Being surrounded by your loved ones who support you unconditionally,
gives us the confidence to get through the many difficult challenges of life”. Both sisters have always been inseparable. Shen-Tel remembers the day she pleaded to her mother for a sister. When her mother Betty ask “How about a baby brother?” Shen-Tel insisted, “I want a baby sister!” The bond between these two sisters is obvious. In their presence they often say the same thing at the same time, or finish each other’s sentences. Separately they would come home with identical purchases. They have similar intuitions. To them this comes from years of travelling together and countless hours of sharing identical hobbies. Arts have always been their foray. They grew up in a family that encouraged music and arts. The girls flourished in University with both graduating with Degrees in Design. Shen-Tel founded her own Graphic Design business called The Playground Sydney in 2004 and in 2008 Elizabeth joined the company. Together they worked with many top Australian Brands specialising in cosmetic packaging. In 2009 Shen-Tel got married and moved to Borneo where she started Sereni & Shentel with her best friend Sereni Linggi, an online business specialising in handmade headbands. The sisters continued to design for their clients in Sydney despite the separation
but the creative itch to start something together could no longer be contained. Elizabeth recalls “I came to Borneo and told my sister, it is time we start designing something for ourselves!” Shen-Tel couldn’t have agreed more. Having experienced first hand how to start and run a business she had the confidence to create a brand that would be the very essence of what the sisters are. As Shen-Tel puts it, “With years of designing brands for other company’s it was fun to turn the tables around. Creating Bowerhaus came naturally for us.” For years the sisters had been creating their own necklaces and earrings with the collaboration of jewellers in Sydney and Hong Kong. Their mother taught them how to buy the best pearls and encouraged them create their own designs. The sisters would often create fun pieces for friends and family. The common design thread throughout all their creations was simplicity and quality. “Travelling to places like India, Japan, Italy and China really opened our eyes to the variety of gemstones and pearls the world has to offer,” says Shen-Tel. With the aim being affordability and quality for the Australian market the girls designed, source and produce their first collection they simply called “Hello.” The collection was designed with Keishi and Baroque pearls that were all hand selected by the sisters for their unique raw qualities which they christened ‘Rebel Pearl.’ “We never go for flawless pearls. We go for pearls with personality that are unique and irregular. For us, individuality is everything and we want each piece to have its own special characteristic,” says Elizabeth. Creating their signature Bowerhaus coin came from years of looking at their father’s vintage coin collection. “The
signature jingle that comes from a Bowerhaus trio bracelet evokes a childhood memory of the sound of tuck-shop money in my school uniform pocket,” recalls Shen-Tel. Creating the packaging was something the girls had the most fun with. Having sourced the paper they wanted from Japan and working with printers to get the right folds for the handles on their paper bags, the creative process of designing pouches, packing boxes, carry bags and their first catalog was all territory the girls were most comfortable in. “I remember how excited and ready we were when we shot our first catalog in Kuala Lumpur,” recalls Elizabeth. Since that first shoot the sisters travelled to Paris to shoot their second range and their current 2012 collection was shot in Shen-Tel’s new hometown of Kuching in Borneo. A year has now passed and the girls are still creating beyond Bowerhaus with Elizabeth creating a new online business called Postman’s Box with her business partner Holly Cardew. The website provides free instant card delivery for online cards and invitations, designed with luxury and sophistication in mind. The girls saw a gap in the market for beautifully designed cards that are free. The website www.postmansbox.com has a funbooth function where you can take retro black and white photo strips and email them to your friends or family with a message. “The site will grow to include cards designed specifically for advertisers but for now we are just building up our data base of fans,” says Elizabeth. Right now the girls are undergoing the joys and pitfalls of being employers. The one thing for certain is that creation and innovation is what the sisters live for.
Shen-Tel Lee
Headbands by Sereni & Shentel available at sereniandshentel.com
take me to paris KLCC Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia The Romantic Streets of Paris came to life when Lancôme re-launched their number one selling fragrance “Trésor in love” in the centre concourse of KLCC in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia on the 23rd of July. Known as the busiest retail spot in Kuala Lumpur, it was an honour for Bowerhaus to be associated with such a legendary brand and location. Bowerhaus was invited to showcase a window display. Shen-Tel and Elizabeth Lee spent weeks designing a space that would be Parisian Chic. The lyric “You make me happy when skies are grey” from the song “You are my Sunshine” was the inspiration for the display. Planning to get all the props they needed and installing it in such a tight time frame was a real challenge. Setup was from 4am to 7am with the final approval to be given at 8am. Shen-Tel and Elizabeth thought they had it all planed to the last hour until a massive spanner was thrown into the works. The actual street set was not completed until 7am leaving the girls only an hour to get their installation into place. Surrounded by many contractors and wet paint the display was put together in record speed. Visual merchandising is truly a labour of love and the cofounders of Bowerhaus are in total awe of all designers that battle window displays on a daily basis.
The Lanc么me set being built at 4am
Behind the scenes in KLCC
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the store that always stays open See you online! To view our prices or to find your nearest stockist please visit our online store www.bowerhaus.com.au