founder of Emma Dorrington Jewellery, a Cape Town–based brand focusing on simple, thoughtfully made pieces.

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I started Emma Dorrington Jewellery in 2020, during lockdown, initially as a hobby while I was completing my psychology degree, which had moved online at the time. Creating jewellery has always been something I have loved doing. It is a way for me to calm my mind, be present, have some fun, and reconnect with myself.

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Before that, I spent a year studying Jewellery Design and Metal Techniques at Stellenbosch University. While I really loved jewellery design, I realised I was missing working with people and being in a more collaborative environment. So I decided to change my studies to something that allowed me to focus on people - and what better course to study than psychology!

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So that’s what I did, and I took a break from jewellery for a few years while focusing on my degree - until lockdown. While I was studying online back at home, my mom found me a second hand jewellery bench and encouraged me to start again. We set it up in her office (which we shared- noise and all), and that’s where the business really began, selling pieces to family and friends.

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After lockdown, I started selling my jewellery in a few shops around Cape Town and online, and Emma Dorrington Jewellery began to slowly grow. Around the same time, I completed my board exams for psychology and registered as a Registered Counsellor with the South African Health Department. After which I began my counselling practice in Rondebosch, where I work with teens and adults going through grief, trauma, and periods of transition.

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More recently, I’ve been working on something I’m really excited about - jewellery-making workshops. It feels like a natural coming together of the two things I love: connection and creativity.

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Emma Dorrington Jewellery is still evolving as I grow, try new things, and lean into change. It’s something that continues to take shape over time, and I’m really grateful to share it.

 

Thank you for your interest in this small business that means so much to me.