Elze Designer Jewellery

Scrolling through Instagram, I always feel a sense of pride when coming across a beautifully curated profile of a Namibian small business. I love that local! Recently, an Elze Designer Jewellery post made its way into my Instagram feed, and I found myself admiring a simple and elegant Cloudy Day Rainbow Pendant. Staring in admiration, I also found myself disheartened because I thought that if I had to put this on my birthday gift list, my husband would have to struggle with shipping it from SA. I wasn’t disappointed for long though because I discovered in Elze’s profile that her jewellery studio is based in Namibia.

The talented and passionate woman behind the crafting tools is Elze Eigelaar. From humble beginnings in a small garage with bad lighting to a fully equipped studio today, she has always known that she is a creator and maker. “Making meals, making jewels, making a home and making time for the important things in life.”

After her application to study graphics was rejected she surprisingly got accepted for jewellery design at the University of Stellenbosch and quickly grew a passion for this art. “I kind of fell in love with the world of melting metals and making functional art that people can wear and actually attach significant sentimental value to for various reasons”. Her business keeps growing and while it does, she concerns herself with sustainability in fashion, a hot topic and an important movement toward eco-conservation, keeping it in mind while making business decisions and expanding.

In crafting these dainty and unique pieces, Elze draws inspiration from her surroundings. She grew up in the Karoo but now calls Namibia her home-both of them landscapes which are rich in the authenticity of detail in nature, memories that inspire the stories told through her creations.

Her stories become part of her pieces, which become part of other women’s lives.

Find Elze’s work on Instagram @elzedesingerjewellery or contact her for a custom-designed piece via her website www.elzejewellery.com

Ena Visagie