Emily Tan began her design career working on bespoke shoes and costume jewellery for brands like Jimmy Choo and Marni, before entering the world of fine bespoke jewellery. By 2018, the graduate of the Gemological Institute of America had launched Calla Lily Fine Jewellers, which focuses on whimsical designs created with coloured gemstones. “My fascination with jewellery started very early – I would make friendship bands for friends in school. When I went into jewellery as a career, there was a desire to make my pieces more distinct and long-lasting, so I gravitated towards precious gemstones,” she says.
Tan also began collecting vintage lamps to help decorate her atelier in Tiong Bahru. The lamps were sourced from antique shops in Singapore and lighting manufacturers overseas, while a few were gifted to Tan. “I started collecting vintage lamps and chandeliers because I love how they create a mood in a space and how the light reflects off a wall onto my sketches. It’s inspiring to work in an atelier with fittings from another era, especially Art Deco and Bauhaus-themed lamps from the early to mid-1900s,” says Tan.
Illustrations by Kimberley Batchelor
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