Jewellery As Unique As Your DNA

Jessie Foo’s natural inclination towards jewellery design has gained her a family of fans who love her bespoke creations.

Nov 2017

Jessie Foo’s natural inclination towards jewellery design has gained her a family of fans who love her bespoke creations.

It was almost inevitable that Jessie Foo would grow up to be an aesthete, given how the creative gene runs in her family. The jewellery designer and founder of Yuli Inc. – Fine Jewellery says: “My father, a businessman, is an accomplished calligrapher. My uncle is an artist, and my sister, a fashion designer, while my brother is an interior designer.”

Today, her extended family – her loyal fans – are the beneficiaries of not just her artistry and the exquisite craftsmanship poured into her jewellery, but of her genuine friendship as well, as she takes the time to listen to and get to know her clients. The devoted mother of three boys continues to nurture her jewellery line, which celebrates its 22nd anniversary this year.

It took several twists and turns for her to get here: As an enterprising 20something, Foo was designing for her own fashion boutique and had gone to the US to further her studies in fashion design and cosmetology. “I fell in love with jewellery while there, and pursued diplomas in gemmology and jewellery design from the Gemological Institute of America instead.”

Back in Singapore, she began designing as a sideline to her wholesale diamond business – a way to help customers visualise how those loose gems could be turned into statement jewellery. With the encouragement of her clients and friends, she started her own studio, followed by a boutique.

Bespoke designs remain the backbone of Yuli’s offerings today, alongside an annual thematic collection boasting extraordinary gemstones and a range of designs for various occasions and to satiate myriad tastes.

Earlier this year, Yuli also unveiled a collection of body chain jewellery that hit the sweet spot with millennials and clients looking for something edgier.

“I create fine jewellery that not just complements but brings out the personality of its wearer,” she says. “Forget mass production and cookie-cutter jewellery – each of our pieces is handcrafted and finished to the highest quality possible, and even a classic design will incorporate a slight twist, a little wink to your individuality.”