Thanks to the incessant influx of ever-evolving trends and fads within the world of accessories, many of us have adopted a one-year-of-show-then-throw attitude towards our Demi-fine jewellery pieces. Yet placing a sizeable sterling silver wedge within the carousel, Prachi Jain enters the industry with a mission to create a new perspective of our accessories: one which is eco-friendly, timeless and above all else, truly sentimental.

Inspired by London’s melting pot of charm, energy and cultural diversity, Prachi birthed MELT — a marrying of high quality products with a concept which challenges the wastefulness of modern day discourse. Unveiling their first collection of rings, earrings and necklaces in 2021, MELT put their namesake to good use — featuring silhouettes which appear frozen in time during the jewellery-making process. While the pieces are captured during the transitional stages between a solid and a liquid, they simultaneously represent the boundless opportunities within human creation — and the art which can be achieved by embracing the complexity and fluidity of the human experience.

Continuing their mission, MELT have naturally progressed to their next chapter with THE CUSTOM SHOP. Opening up their inclusive lens further, the collection allows for customisation with a separate Head and Crystal Bullet which can be separated and changed. Serving as a reminder that our jewellery can be limitless while still being sustainable, MELT pave the way for a new way of thinking: one which makes jewellery more personable than ever before.

Following the latest work of MELT, we caught up with founder Prachi Jain to discuss the motivations behind her brand, the fusion of her Indian upbringing and her move to London, and where her vision is likely to take her next. To shop the collections, head to meltjewellery.co.uk. For the full interview, scroll below…

Hi, how are you? Where are we speaking to you from?
Hi, I am doing well! I am based in London, currently working from my home/ studio space, which is the new normal I guess for everyone these days.

Let’s start at the beginning! What is your first memory of jewellery?
It’s hard to say as I think being born in India, jewellery is such an intrinsic part of our culture that we see it everywhere. You probably won’t come across any Indian mum without any jewellery, so I have to say the first memory of jewellery was seeing why mum in traditional Indian Jewellery growing up.

As a brand, who/what does MELT represent?
Melt represents the fusion of different cultural and the creative experiences I have had coming from India to the UK and my voice as a South Asian designer.

What was the decision process behind the name MELT? As a London born brand, how have your experiences and feelings towards the city translated into your designs? If at all?
Before I even started designing my first collection, I always knew that the brand’s name was going to be MELT. The name has two facets to it — first, inspired by London, this fascinating melting pot of cultures that we live in. It was such an impactful change in my life when I moved here six years ago, almost like being woken up from a dream. I was exposed to so much so quick that my senses wanted to absorb as much as possible — it was surreal. Second, the process of making jewellery by melting silver, the organic form and just the characteristic of the metal itself, it’s beautiful.

Given that MELT was established in 2021, what was your experience of navigating an emerging brand during a global pandemic? Would you say this has influenced the outcome of your pieces?

I would’t say it was particularly difficult due to the pandemic but because MELT is my first baby. I had to carve out my own story and perspective to create this new concept jewellery company which stood out. On the contrary, the lockdown gave me time to create and to reflect on the designs again and again. We created almost 6-8 samples before we achieved our final design that I am proud of.

Would you say your designs are reflective of yourself and your identity? If so, how?

I believe consistency is the death of ideas, so I don’t know where the next inspiration for the collection is going to come from, and I am not looking for it either. At MELT, we don’t want to be bound by the practice of launching two to four collections a year. We could drop one or eight if it feels right and that inconsistency is our strength, just like it has been for me personally. I have always produced my best work when I have let the inspiration come to me.

There is undeniably a fantasy element to your designs. Is escapism important to you? If so, how do you escape?

I think I have always been a day dreamer, at least that’s what my teachers used to say in school. For me, the design process starts from observing an object — distorting it in my head, then putting it down on paper, whatever it may look like and refining it into a concept. The idea could be born from fantasy stories, retro futurism, utopian dreamscapes, or literally the most monotonous things like the crown cap of last night’s beer bottle.

Is there a significance in your choice of working with silver ? Would you consider working with other metals/materials?

I absolutely love silver and it have always been my favourite metal in terms of jewellery but I would love to venture into gold as we grow as a company for sure.

You describe yourself as a ‘SUSTAINABLE AND AN EVER EVOLVING CONCEPT.’ Could you expand upon the importance of these features and how they are practiced at MELT?

MELT is a new age jewellery company. With our new collection: THE CUSTOM SHOP, we have introduced a mechanism built into our pieces whereby the customers can customise/create their own jewellery from an array of options available on our website. This is a new concept that will reprogram the banal routine of buying-wearing-discarding jewellery. So, that’s why we are a futuristic, sustainable and an ever-evolving concept where no piece of your precious jewellery would be replaced after a year or two. The idea is that one can turn the old into new by just switching a single component.

Your jewellery often incorporates crystals, with a focus on their properties. What can you tell us about your own relationship with this practice? What are your thoughts on the recent popularisation of these practices, particularly among Gen-Z?
I have always been intrigued by these earthly treasures — by their physical attributes and their holistic properties. Also being brought up in India, there is a big cultural significance of each and every crystal and how it’s linked with our existence. I am a big believer of how everything born from this earth is all connected in some way or the other. Natural gemstones have been around for thousands of years and so have their properties since ancient times. I don’t like to see it as a trend, as the trends fade overtime. But I resonate with anyone who wants to explore this side of the crystals and learn more, so we have the information available on our website for anyone who is curious.

What is next for you? Do you have any big projects you are looking forward to working on in 2022?
We are looking forward to launch our new collection THE CUSTOM SHOP very soon which has been in the making for the last two years. This is an innovative concept of jewellery and I am very excited to see how it’s received and would love to see the way everyone styles it.