State Property, a cult jewellery brand that has been favoured by stylish insiders since its launch, is now available to a global audience on the luxury e-commerce website.
When it comes to local jewellery, names like Caratell, Flower Diamond or Yuli Inc. Fine Jewellery come to mind. Now, get set to add State Property to the list of iconic bling brands from Singapore. This cult bijoux label, which has already garnered fans like Michelle Obama, Nicole Kidman and Lady Gaga, has just made it to the big league.
This week, the brand announced its biggest break yet – it is now available on global luxury e-commerce website Net-A-Porter, which gives it exposure to shoppers from all around the world. Founded by Afzal Imram and Lin Ruiyin in 2015, State Property is the first fine jewellery label from Singapore to be available on this influential website.
Lin, who holds a first-class honours degree in jewellery design from London’s Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, said, “We are proud to be the first Singaporean fine jewellery label on Net-A-Porter, and we see it being a great way to continue to not only grow our brand, but also to bring a little spotlight to the overlooked fine jewellery scene here in Singapore.”
Lin and Afzal, who are married, first dipped their toes into fine jewellery as a bespoke service. Then, as word-of-mouth spread, they decided to launch State Property to showcase their own designs. Since then, they have built a fanbase of jewellery lovers who appreciate the unique sculptural silhouettes and minimalist lines of their pieces.
“Being on Net-A-Porter brings a lot of validation to the brand, that State Property is offering products that work in a global sense of taste and luxury. It’s a sign that we’re doing something right, and gives us motivation to keep going,” added Lin. The brand is also available in boutique jewellery retailers in the US and Japan as well as on goop.com and saks.com.
The brand has launched on Net-A-Porter with a selection of their classic and current favourites like the subtly edgy Holmes Earrings, shaped to emphasise the curves of one’s earlobes; and the sleek Battuta Necklace, featuring an elongated pendant that is set with an emerald and surrounded by black onyx and sparkling diamonds.
“We’d like to think that it is because we design pieces for the fashion-conscious contemporary woman, and that our pieces strike a perfect balance between boldness and subtlety, modernity and tradition,” said Afzal, on what he believes is the factor that caught the retailer’s attention.
The past year has changed many people’s buying patterns, he noted, with some customers treating themselves to jewellery in lieu of the typical indulgences of the pre-COVID-19 world, such as lavish holidays.
“We’ve noticed that people are buying pieces that are a little more substantial than before, such as larger rings, bangles and earrings. Perhaps people are more willing to spend a little more on themselves, given the lack of opportunity to spend on things like travel and shopping overseas,” said Afzal, who is trained in industrial design at the National University of Singapore.
There is also a growing demand for more unconventional designs, such as those that include enamelling. “Maybe being cooped up has encouraged us to experiment a little more with our own sense of style and make more adventurous choices,” he mused.
Singaporean shoppers – especially those who prefer to try before they buy – have an additional experience to savour during their rediscover Singapore jaunts. The brand recently moved to a new 2,000 sq. ft. boutique on Armenian Street, just a stone’s throw away from the Peranakan Museum and the National Museum of Singapore.
Housed in a lovingly refurbished art deco style conservation building, the sun-lit gallery mirrors the designers’ approach to fine jewellery – that of borrowing from the past to inform the future.
And if you need another excuse (or reason) to drop by, here’s a good one – State Property is slated to launch a new collection by the middle of the year. So, mark your calendars to get first dibs on the latest designs by a brand that might just be the next big thing in the world of bling.
“We are proud to be the first Singaporean fine jewellery label on Net-A-Porter, and we see it being a great way to continue to not only grow our brand, but also to bring a little spotlight to the overlooked fine jewellery scene here in Singapore.” – Lin Ruiyin
