From Passion to Brand: How Zoaje Came to Be
Zoaje is a French brand specialising in dainty, handmade jewellery. If you love handmade and dainty jewellery, it’s important to know the people behind the brand and their story to get a better grasp of how their designs came to be. This insight into the jewellery design journey will give you a newfound appreciation of their jewellery, ensuring that there is more to each piece than just style and aesthetics. Instead, it is a product of passion and creativity.
Who are the Founders of Zoaje?
Camille and Clement, a couple with a shared passion for travel, fashion, and creativity, are the founders of Zoaje.
From a young age, Camille has shown a deep desire to create something artistic in jewellery or fashion. On the other hand, Clement has a background in creative arts, specifically drawing and music. He pursued studies that enabled him to hone his skills and learn new ones, eventually focusing on photography and branding.
Together, Camille and Clement make a dynamic duo that has built a brand specialising in dainty, timeless jewellery.
Camille’s Passion for Fashion and Design
Camille’s passion for design and jewellery-making dates back to her younger years. This childhood hobby developed into a stronger passion to start a jewellery brand, thanks to her entrepreneurial spirit and experience working in the fashion industry. She started by obtaining a degree in International Fashion and Luxury Management to ensure she had the educational background to build her own jewellery empire. Camille dedicated hours to learning new skills and honing her craft, in turn shaping her creative spirit and growing passion for jewellery making and design.
Together with her practical jewellery educational background, she holds the business knowledge and industry insights to realise her dream of starting a jewellery brand. She continued to build her portfolio of skills by working in fashion and cosmetics before it was time for her to take the leap, to transform her creative vision into life.
Camille’s realisation that she could transform her passion into a business marked the beginning of the Zoaje brand. It is a product of the founder’s lifelong dream to create timeless jewellery that not only looked stylish but also had cultural and symbolic value.
Clement’s Artistic and Branding Influence
Camille is only half of the Zoaje brand; Clement represents the other equally valuable half. While the idea for the Zoaje brand was sparked by Camille’s passion for fashion and design, Clement complemented her vision with his creative influence. He also started at a young age and was into drawing and music. As time progressed, he ventured into other art forms, such as photography and branding.
Clement’s artistic pursuits led him to support Camille’s vision to build the Zoaje brand, helping shape its visual identity. Beyond his love for art, he had an entrepreneurial vision that enabled the brand to achieve strategic growth. He masterfully combined his business prowess with his creative skills to create a brand that stood out from the competition.
The balance of their skills and knowledge has made Zoaje a formidable brand that has carved its own niche. Camille is responsible for the design and craftsmanship of the jewellery, along with the sourcing of gemstones and materials. Meanwhile, Clement uses his expertise in photography, branding, and business to handle the more strategic aspect of the brand.
The Birth of Zoaje
The story of Zoaje started in 2013 in Shanghai. This city is a suitable birthplace for the brand, representing the cross-section between the ancient and modern. It perfectly encapsulates what the brand is about introducing modern jewellery designs with timelessness.
Camille and Clement started Zoaje as a product of their shared passion for travel, craftsmanship, and creativity. It became the concrete representation of their creative visions, and the core philosophy of the brand is bringing the world together through its designs. Every jewellery item they design and manufacture tells the story of the different countries and cultures around the world.
Global exploration and discovery have fascinated Camille and Clement, so their designs are named after various countries. They want each piece or set of jewellery to be inspired by the corresponding country. It serves as the designers’ – Camille and Clement – connection to these cultures, which they can pass onto the wearer.
A considerable part of the Zoaje brand identity is its sourcing of materials from various parts of the world. They shy away from the common gemstones and like to source unique gemstones that make their designs stand out. For example, they use Moonstone from India and Labradorite from Mongolia. These gemstones possess a unique, natural beauty and deep symbolism. Each gemstone represents a story originating from the country they are sourced from. From its rich history to the culture, wearing its jewellery designs can make someone feel like they’ve absorbed the wanderlust spirit.
Insight into the Design Journey of the Jewellery Brand
The Zoaje brand focuses on creating dainty, timeless jewellery designs. These pieces are meant to stand the test of time. To make their vision come to life, Zoaje founders source premium materials, such as 14K gold-filled, 925 Sterling Silver, and natural gemstones from around the world.
The 14K gold-filled material is durable and can resist tarnishing. It ensures that your jewellery from Zoaje won’t fade over time and retains its luster finish. Meanwhile, 925 Sterling Silver provides a touch of sophistication to the jewellery design. Each natural gemstone used for various designs, captures the beauty of the land from where they are sourced, providing a unique detail to their pieces of jewellery that you won’t find in contemporary jewellery brands.
Zoaje is a brand that emphasises the value of craftsmanship and attention to detail. It ensures that every piece they manufacture offers style and practicality. Since the materials are superior in quality, they can stand the test of time and withstand the wear and tear of daily use.
Since the founders picked the best materials, the pieces are tarnish-proof, water-resistant, and hypoallergenic. Even the most sensitive users won’t suffer from allergies while wearing them. At the same time, the styles are timeless, so they can be used for work, travel, or going out.
Not only is Zoaje committed to sourcing materials from all over the world, but it is also a worthwhile investment because it is versatile and created to endure.
