through the cracks

“I just look fine, everything seems so normal, but I feel like I should be wearing a sandwich board and ringing a bell!” I once lamented to a friend in my darker days. Like so many invisible difficulties, I felt as though I was living in a shadow and I was not being ‘seen’ by the people around me. Every day I plastered a smile on my face and went to work and every night I would be sobbing uncontrollably into a pillow and tossing and turning well into the early hours of the morning. I knew that my journey was somewhat unusual, but I couldn’t be the only one going through adversity.

I wondered if anyone was going this too?

Trauma?

Divorce?

Grief?

Fear?

Loss?

Starting again from nothing? I couldn’t be the only one. Who else was staring at the ceiling until the cold fingers of morning light crawled across it? Who else was walking around with a pit of fear settled deep into their stomach that it seemed like an unrelenting, dark cloud? Who else felt such intense sadness and self-loathing that it permeated every moment?

How would I start over after feeling so ‘broken’ for so long? How would any of us? I decided that at the very least, I needed a reminder. And I didn’t want to hide the fact that I felt broken.

So, I created the Original Collection.

A collection of cuff bracelets inspired by the art of kintsugi – using precious metals to repair a broken item, not hiding its scars, but making it better than it was before. The idea of ‘unbreaking’ something, while proudly declaring the adversity struck me and I knew I wanted to share this with others. Each piece shows the ‘broken’ quality on the outside and comes with a hidden inspirational message on the inside. I loved the idea of a secret strength nestled on the inside of the bracelet whose true meaning is only known to you. This time of year can be really difficult for anyone going through a tough time. A personal and precious gift for yourself or someone you know can make all the difference to mental health and well-being. Choose one that resonates with you as a heartfelt reminder that you too, can be ‘forever unbroken’. 

Click here to browse the collection.