Pearlicious

by Metropol | October 14, 2026 8:33 am

Contemporary pearl jewellery with a fashion-led point of view.

Pearls may be timeless, but the way we wear them continues to evolve. At Christchurch-based Mermade Pearl Studio, founder and designer Lisa Yuyi takes a distinctly contemporary approach to one of jewellery’s most enduring materials.

With a background in fashion design from AUT, Lisa approaches pearls through shape, proportion, texture and styling rather than tradition alone. Irregular baroque pearls, tiny seed pearls, keshi pearls and sculptural freshwater forms are chosen for their individual character and transformed into pieces designed to feel modern, wearable and unexpected.

“There is an extraordinary variety of pearl shapes beyond what has traditionally been available in New Zealand,” Lisa says. “Elongated, flat, sculptural and irregular pearls open up an entirely different design language. Part of what I love about Mermade is being able to bring those unusual forms to a local audience.”

DIY pearl jewellery: Workshops for learning how to create your own beautiful piece available at Mermade Pearl Studio.

That approach allows pearls to be styled well beyond the traditional strand of round pearls. Statement baroque pearl earrings can soften tailoring, while delicate seed pearls or an irregular pearl necklace can add texture to a simple neckline. Mermade’s collections include freshwater pearl jewellery, one-off designs and limited-edition saltwater pearls, with many pieces only created in small quantities.

Alongside finished jewellery, Mermade Pearl Studio offers custom pieces and hands-on pearl jewellery workshops. Discover Mermade online, through selected Christchurch stockists and at scheduled markets and events, go to mermadepearls.co.nz.

Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/pearlicious/