Highlands Jewellery is as unique as the woman who wears it. An artistic collaboration between two jewellery designers turned life-long friends. After a lifetime of exposure to different cultures and styles Angie Lou and Mitsuru have created a line of simple, elegant jewellery that stays true to their minimalist aesthetic. Drawing on inspiration from their European and Japanese roots each design is like a piece of a puzzle that tells their story and the story of Highlands Jewellery.

Meet Angie

Born and raised in a small town in central Russia. With the Volga River as her playground, Angie dreamed of travelling the world and discovering the adventures that lay beyond the mighty Volga. In 1991 Angie travelled to Australia to reconnect with family that had immigrated in 1936. Not yet ready to settle down Angie returned to Europe to live a gypsy life eventually putting down roots in London to work in the Fashion industry. It was only a matter of time before the world came calling again and this time the journey took Angie to Hong Kong where she studied metalsmithing and jewellery making.

In 2005 she travelled back to Australia to study contemporary Jewellery and Object Design and later graduated from a course in Jewellery Manufacture and Trade. This provided the opportunity to work with gold, diamonds and unusual settings. It was around this time that Angie meet Mitsuru and the seed that would become Highlands Jewellery was born.

Meet Mitsuru  

Mitsuru’s passion for design developed during her early childhood. On day trips away with her mother she was never without a pencil and sketch pad. This hobby became a passion eventually leading Mitsuru to the College of Art in Tokyo, where she studied Graphic Design. Her studies opened doors to forms of art, design and culture Mitsuru had never experienced, sparking her interest in Fashion Photography and Western cultures. This interest soon turned to intrigue and in 2005 Mitsuru came to Sydney with her 5 five-year-old daughter. Her plan was to stay for one year and study English however, Mitsuru found community of amazing people who helped her manage her studies while raising her daughter as a single mother.

Mitsuru spent 10 years working in the Design Industry in Tokyo and Sydney, designing marketing material and assisting with fashion accessories design. Wishing to take her jewellery design skills to the next level Mitsuru commenced an Advanced Diploma of Jewellery and Object Design, where she met Angie and the rest, as they say, is history.

Words by Laura Capilli. To read more of Laura’s work head to My Not So Stylish Life