Bliss Lau, founder of her eponymous fine jewelry brand in Brooklyn, New York, has carved a unique path from her Hawaiian roots to becoming a trailblazer in the jewelry world. A childhood love for the ocean inspired her creative spirit, but her journey was anything but conventional.
Early Days: From Parsons to Accessories
After moving to New York to attend Parsons School of Design, Lau initially aspired to design shoes but soon gravitated toward accessories. Frustrated with the program’s focus on fashion design, she rebelled by creating minimal outfits for her thesis collection while showcasing bold handbags, which quickly caught the attention of Opening Ceremony.
The Shift to Jewelry
In 2006, Lau transitioned from designing bags to body jewelry, a medium she found liberating and expressive. “Making body chains was a creative breakthrough,” she recalls. This shift allowed her to explore “non-functional” yet innovative designs.
A Personal Proposal
Lau’s engagement story is as unique as her work. Her fiancé proposed with a leather-bound sketchbook during a visit to the Met Museum, encouraging her to design her dream engagement and wedding rings. This moment reflected her philosophy of wearable art, epitomized by her Kaleidoscope Ring—a modular piece that can be worn in multiple ways, adapting like a jewelry wardrobe.
Her wedding ring also featured a patented sliding mechanism that connects an engagement ring with surrounding double bands. “The symbolism of the rings being held together by your body was intentional,” she explains.
Challenges and Breakthroughs
Lau’s early career wasn’t without hurdles. Her innovative body chains faced intellectual property theft, leading to canceled orders and legal battles. With the help of volunteer attorneys, she managed to halt counterfeit products and protect her designs.
A pivotal moment came in 2013 when Beyoncé wore one of Lau’s body chains in the "Drunk in Love" music video, transforming her brand’s visibility overnight.
A Commitment to Ethical Jewelry
Lau emphasizes sustainability in her creations, using fair-mined gold, post-consumer recycled gems, and lab-grown diamonds. She collaborates with Christina Miller to audit manufacturers for responsible business practices and ethical labor.
She’s also passionate about artisanal mining’s role in supporting local communities. Projects like Moyo Gems inspire her to attract eco-conscious young talent to the jewelry industry.
Celebrating Jade
Lau’s latest collection highlights Guatemalan black jade and lavender jade, in collaboration with San Francisco’s No.3 Fine Jewelry. “Knowing the source of jade is deeply meaningful to me,” she says, noting the challenges of tracing the origins of stones in an often opaque industry.