5 minute read
JEWELLERY
A NEW LIFE
Sharon Aslett specialises in creating upcycled costume jewellery. Here the Bucks local tells us about sustainability and finding a niche
SHARON ASLETT
Q Have you always been interested in jewellery?
A Yes, I believe costume jewellery can really complement your outfits in so many positive ways. There are so many styles to choose from, whether you prefer bold statement pieces or more dainty designs.
Q Did you have a background in fashion before launching your business?
A No, but I have always been interested in fashion and trends, especially bold colours. However, I believe you need to make your own fashion style, not follow rules. Wear the clothes and jewellery that suit you, and that you feel comfortable in.
Q Was there a particular moment that inspired you to launch?
A Yes, I had a box of old bits and bobs,
including lots of broken jewellery. My friend noticed the box and said ‘Sharon, why don't you make jewellery’. I thought ‘oh yes, why don't I make jewellery’! It was like a true lightbulb moment. I have always enjoyed being creative but never found my niche, until I started designing jewellery.
Q Why upcycled costume jewellery?
A I come across such lovely beads, pendants and unwanted broken jewellery, which were just too good to throw away. They just need a new lease of life. So I redesign them into new unique pieces. Also, I can keep my prices reasonable, as I am not working with real silver or gold.
Q Has sustainability always been important to you?
A Yes, it's important to recycle as much as we can to help save the planet. We live in such a throwaway society, which annoys me.
Q How do you create your pieces?
A I collect old, broken and unwanted costume jewellery, from charity shops, eBay and from friends. I sort and clean the items and discard anything that has missing stones or is beyond repair.
I design my jewellery by selecting beads and pendants that are complementary to each other or sometimes are a complete clash, but they just work well together. I enjoy designing pieces from scratch and seeing the end result. Sometimes I am so pleased with my new designs, I want to keep them for myself! All my jewellery is unique, as I only make one of each design, so my clients enjoy the fact that nobody will have the same piece of jewellery as them.
Q Are there certain things you do that are particularly popular?
A My premier collection, statement necklaces and colourful beads are very popular.
Q What’s new from you?
A The exciting news from 2022 was my appearance on GB News in November. I was interviewed about my upcycled costume jewellery on live TV, by the lovely Anne Diamond, who is also one of my clients.
Q What do you have planned for 2023?
A I plan to extend my current design range on my website with some exciting new pieces. Plus, I am designing a bridal necklace and earring set for a client's wedding in May. I may look into some workshops and training courses to expand my knowledge.
Q Where are you based and what do you love about it?
A I am based in the lovely village of Stokenchurch, Bucks. I enjoy living in such a friendly village and supporting local craft shows and fetes in the local area.
Feeling of exclusivity
How Elite HNW are determined to o er a luxurious experience in the heart of Beaconsfield
Elite HNW was created to deliver a luxury boutique store and experience for the Beaconsfield and surrounding area community, across watches, jewellery, and fine artwork.
The store stocks worldrenowned watch brands such as Rolex,
Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Cartier,
Tag Heuer & Breitling, whilst also o ering bespoke handmade in-house, fine jewellery, as well as well-known jewellery brands such as Chanel, Ti any, Cartier, Van
Cleef & Arpels, Shaun Leane and APM
Monaco. Additionally, Elite HNW also operates as a ‘mini art gallery’ displaying
Fletcher Sibthorp, Marcus Egli, Nigel
Cox, Carol Peace, Lisa Swerling and
Jane Hibbert. In addition to this Elite
HNW strongly supports local enterprises and is delighted to exclusively stock in
Buckinghamshire Barrington Watch
Winders, owned by Sean O’Farrell.
The founders of Elite HNW, Max Thorne and Wendy Currie, combined have over 80 years of experience in the watch/ jewellery/art industry and have pooled their resources into the creation of the Elite HNW physical high street store. The company is looking to bridge the gap (and remove the tiresome journey) between Beaconsfield residents and the London boutique stores, and Elite HNW was the solution.
Elite HNW is designed to replicate a
‘London experience’ without the hassle, with rare watches, stunning jewellery (bespoke hand made in-store and pre-loved remarkable luxury brands) and beautiful artwork, from some internationally renowned artists.
Their watch o ering ranges from a few hundred pounds up to luxury high-end watches which can be well over £50,000 and are forming a part of the high-networth investment market, with luxury high end watches rising at a level that outperforms many other investment classes.
Their jewellery is both new and preowned. Elite HNW have a wide variety of preowned jewellery that are often unworn and unwanted presents or in nearly new condition. New jewellery is made by their team of jewellers based in Hatton Gardens, which can be requested, who deliver jewellery to demand, allowing the customer to come in, sit with their designers and create their own beautiful piece.
The artwork is both painting and sculptures. Elite HNW has negotiated exclusivity to the local area on all-out artwork, all paintings are the originals, all sculptures are original and again exclusive to Elite HNW in Beaconsfield.
ELITE HNW
Pop in-store at Elite HNW, 6 The Highway Beaconsfield, HP9 1QD or visit elitehnw.com to see their range of stock
