Inspired by her love of folklore, nature and vintage pieces, Rachel Strange’s jewellery style is unique. She forges her ethereal, textured sterling silver and gold jewellery with a lost-wax casting method, so no two pieces are ever the same.

She has been crafting jewellery in her solar-powered workshop in East Sussex since 2022, but jewellery has been important to her since she was six years old. Rachel can remember watching her mum get ready for a party and helping her choose which earrings to wear. She’s been obsessed with jewellery ever since.

This idea of unconventionality shines through not only in her distinctive process but also the inspiration for her designs. Rachel is captivated by the atmosphere of, what she calls, “the tales that live in the gaps”, using her imagination to tell stories with her art. After visiting Zennor in Cornwall, Rachel was inspired by the tale of the Zennor Mermaid. The legend stayed stuck in her mind, until she came across a stunning piece of Grandidierite in a beautiful ocean turquoise shade. The discovery felt serendipitous, giving the resulting design a distinct, fairytale-like quality to it.

As well as taking inspiration from folklore, Rachel often leads her design process with the vintage gems she finds, approaching it as a journey of discovery. She is passionate about sustainability, so her pieces are always made using recycled metal as well as stones that are either bought from trusted sellers or that have had a previous life.