SPOTLIGHT ON CREATIVES: RAMSHACKLE (SOUTH KOREA)
Photographer Rachel Loh invited us into part of her creative world as she brings together talented friends from Singapore and South Korea to share about themselves and their works, while also capturing our latest collection in their own unique way.
Please introduce yourself and what you do.
Hi, we’re Da-jeong and Yeon-jae (the team behind RAMSHACKLE), a handmade jewelry brand based in Seoul.
Our brand started from the word itself, “ramshackle”, which means something fragile, on the verge of collapse, yet still standing. We’re drawn to that sense of instability and imperfection, and we try to translate that into forms that feel both delicate and powerful.
All of our pieces are made-to-order, created by hand from scratch, so every item carries traces of the process — marks, textures, and small irregularities that we see as part of its identity.
Ramshackle is quite a different jewellery brand from other brands in Seoul, what made the 2 of you do something so different?
We never set out to be different on purpose. It just came from what we genuinely wanted to make. Most jewelry brands focus on perfection, on clean lines and polished beauty, but we were more interested in the emotions that sit behind beauty, such as tension, memory, and fragility.
RAMSHACKLE grew from that idea, from the feeling of being on the edge yet still holding form. We also draw a lot of inspiration from nomadic heritage, from how things are carried, worn, and passed on, and we wanted our pieces to feel like small relics of that kind of life.
Da-jeong styles Lilian Boxy Top with Waist Tie in Sky and Pippa Trousers in Ivory with their jewellery
When creativity becomes difficult, how do you recenter yourselves?
We usually take a step back from work and go outside the studio. Sometimes that means touching materials again, silver, metal dust, even broken parts, without trying to design anything.
Other times we just travel or stay quiet for a while.For us, inspiration isn’t something we chase. It comes naturally when we slow down enough to remember why we started, to express something honest rather than perfect.
Yeon-jae styles Lilian Boxy Top with Waist Tie in Ivory and Jamie Elastic Waist Trousers in Ivory with their jewellery
Both of you have such original styles, how do you both decide how to dress each day?
We don’t overthink it. We just wear what feels comfortable but expressive that day.Sometimes that means a very simple outfit that lets the jewelry stand out, and sometimes it’s more layered or rough.
It’s the same approach as our work, a balance between strength and vulnerability, not trying to look polished but to look real.
Photography & Interview: Rachel Loh
Featured Artist: Da-jeong and Yeon-jae, Designer Duo of Ramshackle
Styled in: Lilian Top (Sky) and Pippa Trousers (Ivory) for Da-jeong, Lilian Top (Ivory) and Jamie Trousers (Ivory) for Yeon-jae