Geometry and timeless style are the two main ingredients for YCL Jewels, a collection of pieces that not only look good, but help to centralise the wearers thoughts, feelings and emotions.
YCL's founder Fabienne Costa began making jewellery 10 years ago, and has since opened her own line of handcrafted pieces that are intentionally designed to align with energy centres throughout the human body.
These energy centres are called chakras, and each is related to an emotion or feeling. YCL Jewels are perfectly made to sit over four of the seven chakras, in order to inspire a clear conscience for the wearer.
“There is so much out there these days, especially for young women, that is based around aesthetic quality, and I think there's enough of that in society,” Fabienne admits. “So I thought to myself about what ways I could bring a little bit more intention into something that people do buy as luxury.
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Every piece in the YCL collection is cruelty-free and vegan, as well as the packaging it comes in. The brand recently came alive in India, where Fabienne travelled to design and sample the collection. A team of craftsmen have collaborated with the founder to continue the brand's traditions overseas.
“I decided to start working with a factory over there to ensure our designs were being ethically manufactured, and right now I handmake everything so from and growth and expansion point of view that's not really sustainable,” Fabienne says.
The first collection that has been manufactured in India will be released at the end of July, and all pieces – though not being handmade by her – will be designed by Fabienne herself.
Since the beginning, YCL has been run and driven by Fabienne's own personal values, which include her appreciation of a wholehearted lifestyle, and the conservation and care of animals. “We ensure that none of our packaging or products contain leather or any other animal by-products, and I feel like you can achieve a just-as-timeless look without supporting those kinds of industries,” she says. “When it comes to packaging, there's so much waste out there and we just try to minimise our carbon footprint as much as possible.”
“A very big point of difference with YCL is that when you order online, you get a beautifully handcrafted box, and everything is found inside that box.”
Her pieces have been worn by household names since the inception of the brand, and Fabienne's hope is that her creations continue to inspire women everywhere. “To know that younger women are buying ethically produced pieces over cheap pieces that have taken something away from our planet, is really beautiful,” Fabienne says. “I really want to pave a new way within the fashion accessory industry; pave a mindful way.”
YCL Jewels is a collection not only for the body, but for the mind and spirit.
