Compass Collection Collaboration with Stylonylon
I’m thrilled to finally announce with a skip and a jump that the collaboration with Stylonylon is out in the world!
Redesigning the Collection
This Compass Collection has been a labor of love—so much so that it’s been an emotional journey. These pieces have been in my heart for a long time, but I’ve been too scared, too vulnerable to bring them to life until now. The Compass Collection embodies that feeling of being lost and needing a guiding hand to lead you home. Both Julia (the creative force behind the fashion blog Stylonylon) and I share a sense that jewellery can provide a calm, reassuring presence. That’s what I hope these pieces bring to everyone who wears them.
The photographs we took for this collection have exceeded my wildest dreams, capturing sunny days and all the creative feels. I’m stepping into the light with this collection and seeing how it feels. Wish me luck!
Julia and I first connected over Instagram, bonding over our mutual appreciation for each other’s style. She adored my Compass necklace, and I mentioned that it was a piece I’d always wanted to spend more time on—to show what I imagined it could be and expand it into a more significant Compass Collection. View her post about our Compass Collection and all her beautiful pictures here.
Four Guardians of the Four Compass Directions
I began by redesigning the actual Compass piece, making each point of the Compass clearer and more defined. In Chinese culture, the four guardians of the compass directions date back to at least the 2nd century BC.
- The Turtle is the emblem of the North, symbolizing longevity and wisdom, with its shell representing the vault of the universe.
- The Dragon is the emblem of the East, corresponding to Spring.
- The Phoenix (or Red Bird) is the spiritual emblem of the South, associated with Summer, fire, and sentiments of knowledge and good fortune.
- The White Tiger, the Guardian of the West, observes the world with clairvoyance and is symbolic of the virtue of righteousness.
Rings of Latitudes
In the dip that the Compass sat in, I added rings of latitudes, imagining our place in this world. It’s as if the Compass itself is perched in a specific place amidst the circles of latitudes. There’s a beautiful, tactile nature to the piece—it’s so soothing to rub your finger over. Each dip and curve symbolizes places near and far, telling the story that life is not always smooth, but with perseverance, we will reach our destination. I’ve always believed that jewellery can have a talismanic quality, reminding us to stay strong and feel the comforting presence of home.
Precious Gemstones
For the Compass Collection, Julia and I decided to add the power of gemstones to each piece, with three stones to represent Find Yourself (Pearl), Know Yourself (Garnet), and Love Yourself (Lapis Lazuli).
- The precious blue Lapis Lazuli is all about happiness, joy for life, and vitality—perfect for Love Yourself.
- The pure white Pearl symbolizes wisdom through experience, purity, and integrity—ideal for Find Yourself.
- The faceted Garnet provides safety, courage, and strengthens relationships—perfect for Know Yourself.
I expanded the Compass Collection into hoops, which I absolutely adore; the movement is beautiful, and the simple hoop balances with the detail of the Compass. The collection also includes simple studs, a bracelet, and a pendant—each available in the Midi size with individual stone combinations. Each piece is engraved on the reverse with its specific mantra and up to two initials of your choice.
We also created a Baby-sized Compass pendant—perfect for layering or as a simple detail to wear. For those who prefer their necklaces longer, the Large Compass size is available and can be personalized on the reverse with beautiful script initials. Both the Midi and Large Compass are available plain or with your empowering stone of choice.
Hold fast.
