Interview with Aye Nyein Pyu
Jewelry is more than just an accessory for a Toronto based Burmese designer Karen Pyu, who is the creative force behind the brand Mondselle.
Interview about Midnight Garden Two Way Pendant and Brooch Design Interview
Design Legend Interview
18 May 2022
When I was a kid, I remember colouring often with crayons. From the very beginning I enjoyed working
with colours, and layering colours for different effects. My favourite subject was always art and
oddly enough, math. Seeing how I love to draw a lot, starting 2nd grade my mom put me in an
art class every summer, but it wasn’t until I was 14 when I moved to Singapore American School
I was given the opportunity to take a large variety of art classes and really pursue my passion
for art. After completing high school I moved to Canada to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in jewellery design and metalsmithing, and have lived in Toronto since. After graduating from OCAD
university I started Mondselle, my own jewellery line, which consists of both everyday and
statement jewellery.
with colours, and layering colours for different effects. My favourite subject was always art and
oddly enough, math. Seeing how I love to draw a lot, starting 2nd grade my mom put me in an
art class every summer, but it wasn’t until I was 14 when I moved to Singapore American School
I was given the opportunity to take a large variety of art classes and really pursue my passion
for art. After completing high school I moved to Canada to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in jewellery design and metalsmithing, and have lived in Toronto since. After graduating from OCAD
university I started Mondselle, my own jewellery line, which consists of both everyday and
statement jewellery.
During my junior year in high school there was a design competition for SIGG water
bottles. The winning design would be printed on the bottles that were distributed to all the
students at school. My submission was hand picked as the best design and it was amazing to
see students carrying around the water bottles with my design on it. That kicked started my
passion into pursuing design.
bottles. The winning design would be printed on the bottles that were distributed to all the
students at school. My submission was hand picked as the best design and it was amazing to
see students carrying around the water bottles with my design on it. That kicked started my
passion into pursuing design.
I design for myself while treating Mondselle customers as friends. I design products I genuinely believe in - pieces I would wear every day. A great designer would never design a piece they would never wear themselves. I put the interest of the client's first and foremost.I design jewellery pieces to reflect on the stories of each and every one of Mondselle’s customers. Most of the jewellery we own today comes with great sentimental value, either passed down from our grandparents to our parents or were gifts from our loved ones; every piece has its own special story behind it. I want to help others tell their stories and express themselves through the jewellery pieces they wear.
I would love to design a tiara or a crown one day for someone important.
It has certainly been a bumpy ride. From coming up with the brand name, designing the logo, to finding suppliers and goldsmiths to work with, it was all a one woman show ‒ of course, not without the advice and moral support of friends and family. I had to pave my own path because no one in my family is from an art or jewellery background. Also, starting a business from the ground up forced me to be disciplined. I needed to have self-control, time management, and energy to push myself to get out of my comfort zone. On the days I felt discouraged, I would remember why I even started all of this in the first place and that would motivate me again.
The biggest challenge thus far has been dealing with people trying to copy my designs. There is so much time and effort involved in designing and creating a product and then finally getting the product out to the public. Unfortunately, there are people taking advantage of my creativity and work. On the bright side that only pushes me to stay one step ahead, and I am very thankful for all Mondselle customers for their continued support.
The biggest challenge thus far has been dealing with people trying to copy my designs. There is so much time and effort involved in designing and creating a product and then finally getting the product out to the public. Unfortunately, there are people taking advantage of my creativity and work. On the bright side that only pushes me to stay one step ahead, and I am very thankful for all Mondselle customers for their continued support.
Historically South East Asia is associated with lower incomes than the western world, making the region known for producing commodities only and not for luxury goods. While they are displaying innovation and superb craftsmanship, many brands in SEA lacks visibility. I hope to see more recognition of talent in the SEA region.
One source of inspiration comes from my father because he started from nothing and became successful later in life. Having lost a father at the age of two, life everyday was a struggle for him. My dad would walk miles across the village every morning to go to school. That image of my dad drove me to work hard and to do my best at everything I do in life. I have always been a driven person, whether with my school work, assignments or my recreational projects such as painting ‒ nobody needed to tell me to do them, I generally wouldn't get up from my seat until I completed them. I loved to draw and paint since I was a kid and naturally I took to pursuing design.
I hope the future to be a happy and pleasant place for people to grow up in. I'd like to think of the future as an exciting place rather than all doom and gloom.
Designer Interview
17 May 2022
To give you a bit of background I was born in Myanmar and lived there until I was 14. When I
was a kid, I remember colouring often with crayons. From the very beginning I enjoyed working
with colours, and layering colours for different effects. My favourite subject was always art and
oddly enough, math. Seeing how I love to draw a lot, starting 2nd grade my mom put me in an
art class every summer, but it wasn’t until I was 14 when I moved to Singapore American School
I was given the opportunity to take a large variety of art classes and really pursue my passion
for art. During my junior year in high school there was a design competition for SIGG water
bottles. The winning design would be printed on the bottles that were distributed to all the
students at school. My submission was hand picked as the best design and it was amazing to
see students carrying around the water bottles with my design on it. That kicked started my
passion into pursuing design.
After completing high school I moved to Canada to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in jewellery
design and metalsmithing, and have lived in Toronto since. After graduating from OCAD
university I started Mondselle, my own jewellery line, which consists of both everyday and
statement jewellery.
was a kid, I remember colouring often with crayons. From the very beginning I enjoyed working
with colours, and layering colours for different effects. My favourite subject was always art and
oddly enough, math. Seeing how I love to draw a lot, starting 2nd grade my mom put me in an
art class every summer, but it wasn’t until I was 14 when I moved to Singapore American School
I was given the opportunity to take a large variety of art classes and really pursue my passion
for art. During my junior year in high school there was a design competition for SIGG water
bottles. The winning design would be printed on the bottles that were distributed to all the
students at school. My submission was hand picked as the best design and it was amazing to
see students carrying around the water bottles with my design on it. That kicked started my
passion into pursuing design.
After completing high school I moved to Canada to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in jewellery
design and metalsmithing, and have lived in Toronto since. After graduating from OCAD
university I started Mondselle, my own jewellery line, which consists of both everyday and
statement jewellery.
In 2015, just a year after graduating from university, I decided to establish Mondselle. It started as a platform for me to express and share my creativity with the world. Within the first year it was well received beyond expectations which pushed me to further develop the brand. My designs which combine my Burmese heritage with urban western perspectives quickly rose to popularity because of its unique representation of a culture. Mondselle has been able to cater to audiences from different parts of the world. And as a startup brand there is nothing quite like the feeling of seeing my piece worn by an A-list celebrity such as MYA.
“Jewellery is an everyday art form.” With this design philosophy at the core of Mondselle, I design jewellery pieces to reflect on the stories of each and every one of Mondselle’s customers.Most of the jewellery we own today comes with great sentimental value, either passed down from our grandparents to our parents or were gifts from our loved ones; every piece has its own special story behind it. I want to help others tell their stories and express themselves through the jewellery pieces they wear.
I love creating one-of-a-kind statement jewelry that tells a story.I have a background in fine arts and I like to treat the pieces of jewellery I design and create as a painting with multiple layers of colours and depth.
My favorite design is a necklace titled 'United Choker which consists of eight charms representing national costumes of eight different ethnicities present in Myanmar. Contemporary and witty, the charms showcases smiley faces and colorful gemstones for an elegant yet vibrant look.
After graduating I worked at a jewellery company in Toronto which focuses on custom engagement and wedding rings. The first ring I designed for them was a classic round halo diamond ring with a split shank.
I love working with colours so naturally genuine coloured stones are my playground. I especially love all shades of blue so sapphires and tanzanite are my favourite stones along with Burmese rubies and emeralds.
Aesthetic and function go hand in hand. I typically have an inspiration or a theme that I want to explore. I pick out certain details from it, such as the shapes, and from there I sketch out designs by transforming the shapes into something new and wearable.
I get very excited when I have my lightbulb moments. However, one aspect of designing is problem solving. The end goal is to figure out how to best deliver an idea I have in my head in the most beautiful way possible.
As a jewelry designer my job is to give permanent beautiful homes to beautiful gemstones mother nature has gifted us with. When you are working with very precious gemstones (because the amount is finite), it is not only important to create designs that will stand the test of time, it is also crucial to know the source of the stones. Making sure and understanding the gemstones I am working with are ethically sourced and produced is very important to me.
When I travel, I always pay attention to what’s around me, to the people and to the incredible art and architecture. Inspirations always come to be unexpectedly. I will have to attribute my most successful collections to chance inspirations. It is never when I am sitting at a desk with a sketchbook that the ideas come to me. Sometimes I would dream about a design and wake up and dribble it down in my sketchbook.
I gravitate towards clean and sculptural aesthetics, and I am also highly attracted to floral motifs. I design products I genuinely believe in - pieces I would wear every day. My focus is also on wearability. You can pair one of my rings with a cocktail dress just as easily as you can with jeans. My line of jewellery is something that both fashionable and classical girls can wear every day.
I was born in Myanmar but I spent my adolescent years abroad in Singapore and later in Canada. Having lived away from home since I was 14, I have learned to harmoniously integrate with other cultures. My Burmese heritage heavily influenced the themes of my collections. I try to integrate the understated elegance of Eastern cultures with the more individualistic traits prized in Western cultures.
Before I touch a pen and paper, I typically have an inspiration or a theme that I want to explore. I pick out certain details from it, such as the shapes, and from there I sketch out designs by transforming the shapes into something new and wearable. After I have the designs finalized, I create 3D models of them on my computer. When I have a creative block, I let it sit for a while and go back to it the next morning with a fresh perspective.
My journey hasn’t been a smooth sail. People don’t see the struggles every entrepreneur faces behind the curtains. When I first started, it was a one-woman operation and I was living off of coffee and excitement. Being a woman in the workforce has challenges but it’s important to stand your ground. People will respect you if you come from a place of strength and honesty. So, my advice is to learn to be independent, and to not be afraid to try something new. Pursue your passion and don’t get deterred if you don't succeed at the first try because the key is to be persistent. You also have to want the stress and the struggles that comes with it if you want to be successful.
I always reply emails quickly. I can be reached at anpyu@mondselle.com