The Wasis Studio collection is Influenced by the cycle of seasons and the theme of renewal, seed and seed pods including those of wildflowers, roses and gourds. Photo: Amani Azlin
Referring to herself as a “kampung girl at heart”, Wasis Studio designer and founder Sakinah Hassan grew up playing with seeds and seedpods in Terengganu.
This is what inspired the Seed(Pods) 2022 collection, a collaboration with Nelissa Hilman.
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Influenced by the cycle of seasons and the theme of renewal, seed and seed pods including those of wildflowers, roses and gourds were the inspiration for the 12-piece contemporary and ultra-modern collection which consists of rings, earrings and brooches plated in 24-karat gold.
“It fits the theme of renewal that I have in mind and it also goes with NH’s theme for SS22, Journey in Grace (Grounded),” expresses Sakinah.
Sakinah Hassan drew inspiration for the collection from her childhood when she used to play with seeds and seedpods. Photo: Sakinah Hassan“I spent four to six weeks researching seeds and seedpods, randomly sketching many different shapes before shortlisting about 23 sketches and finally choosing seven of them to make maquettes.
The NH (Nelissa Hilman) team then decided on five designs and I spent another two weeks working on the mockups before turning them into 12 different pieces for the collection.”
As an artist, the days can get lonely as one works in a pretty much solitary environment, and Sakinah feels that working on the collection rejuvenated and revitalised her creatively.
“The opportunity to collaborate with Nelissa Hilman gave me a new energy, a new life, just like when seeds are dispersed from seedpods. Seeds and seedpods symbolise the process of renewal by breaking open, releasing, and new beginning by planting the seeds; seeds of change, seeds of life, seeds of hope,” she says.
Prior to launching the Seed(Pods) collection, Sakinah released a small nine-piece, one-off blackened silver collection called “Crease, Crumple, Fold: A record of gestures”, inspired by the writing of Ellen Sampson.
Formed with soft wax to allow the traces of use and wear to show, the pieces are then cast in sterling silver - memorialising the maker’s touch.
Crafting jewellery is not an easy feat, and Sakinah faces challenges with getting Malaysians to understand what contemporary jewellery is.
There’s also issues with production, as there are not that many suppliers and services available locally that provide the materials she needs.
“Especially since the lockdown, it’s become even more limited so I had to adapt and change the way I work based on what’s possible at the moment,” explains Sakinah.
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“Wasis is currently a one-woman show so sometimes it can be challenging getting things done fast but I’m managing expectations by giving a timeline on when people can expect to receive their order(s). Hiring another studio jeweller to assist me is something I’m looking to do when the situation permits.”
“I hope through sharing sessions and more exposures, more Malaysians will know about and learn to appreciate contemporary jewellery,” says Sakinah, who is currently working on her next collection which she hopes to launch in early 2023.
