Bia Tambelli - Is All Soul

Up-and-coming Brazilian designer Bia Tambelli is one to watch. Her pieces are bold, modern, and centre on geometric shapes and mathematical analysis. She chats about her background, spiritualism, and what’s next for her namesake line.

- Smitha Sadanandan

Tell me about yourself, and what shaped your love for jewellery?

I grew up in the Minas Gerais region in Brazil – a land rich in minerals – and spent my childhood playing with gemstones and collecting them. For me, it was a fun and playful hobby. Back then, I never imagined I would become a jewellery designer. However, when my family moved to Poços de Caldas, I began to pursue the arts and later graduated with a degree in Visual Arts. It has enabled me to communicate about my creations with a focus on the core message – self-knowledge and self-transformation. What I love most about jewellery is that the pieces are in direct contact with people and form a unique connection.

When did you decide to dive into the jewellery scene? What inspired your namesake line?

I began my journey into jewellery designing without thinking much of what it might entail. After an art exhibition garnered us designers and artists a lot of attention, a Brazilian jewellery company invited me to design a collection for them even though I had never quite sketched jewellery before. When I started researching the stones that I would use for this collection, I had an immediate and emotional calling of “coming back home.” It was then that I thought I could really make a difference, through jewellery, to the industry and myself. I decided to launch my namesake brand because each time I create a collection, I strive to convey a message of mindfulness.

Brazilian origin and Western influences: how do you meld the two cultural sensibilities into a singular aesthetic?