Superette x By Charlotte

Superette has joined forces with By Charlotte to offer a jewellery collection that heroes its signature star design, with two takes on the classic hoops (RRP$119 & $139) and a stud ($119) offering some solid ear candy. Better still, for the months of November-December shoppers will have the opportunity to get their gift beautifully wrapped in custom Superette packaging for a $2 donation, helping charity partner Everybody Eats tackle New Zealand’s food poverty problem through its open invitation dining spaces.

We sat down with Charlotte Blakeney, jewellery designer and owner of By Charlotte, to discuss her ethical jewellery collection and special Christmas collaboration with Superette.

How did you start ‘By Charlotte’ and what was your motivation to create your own jewelry line?

For as long as I can remember, jewellery has always been a passion of mine. When I was younger, I would play around in my mum’s jewellery box. She had these amazing Indian inspired pieces with the most beautifully and vibrantly coloured gemstones. But it was only until I was two decades into my career as a make-up artist that I felt it was the perfect time to start my own jewellery brand. I remember I was on a yoga retreat in Desa Seni, Indonesia, surrounded by beautiful lotus flowers when I felt inspired to create our signature lotus necklace—our very first piece in the range. I felt a deep connection to the inspiring story of the lotus and wanted to create a piece of jewellery that would empower the wearer like the journey of the lotus blooming empowered me. As a lover of jewellery and a deeply spiritual and emotive person by nature, I knew that I wanted to create a brand full of meaning and intention.

Tell us more about your Superette collaboration. What inspired it, your vision for it, how the process unfolded?

For this collection, we wanted the message to be joyful, positive and empowering. Superette wanted to explore designs with stars which was perfect for the message we had in mind. We started with the mantras “Reach for the stars” and “Be your own light” and created fun, sparkling and spirited designs that reflected these beautiful words. These pieces were created to make you feel happy, confident and limitless!

What’s unique about this collab?

This collaboration, more so than any we’ve done in the past, was really centred around and driven by our mantras “Reach for the stars” and “Be your own light”. These pieces represent pure joy and the magic of never giving up on your dreams.

I loved the name of the pieces – I’m eternally inspired by the phrase ‘reach for the stars’. What’s the story behind these names?

As a brand, our vision and purpose are to inspire and empower through messages of love, peace and happiness. Our customers are a constant source of inspiration for us, so we always ask ourselves “What do we want our customers to feel when they adorn themselves in this piece?”. For this collaboration, it was a sense of infinite empowerment and self-confidence—never be afraid to chase your dreams, you are full of infinite potential and radiant light.

·Do you have a signature jewellery look?

I love layering my ears up with delicate gold jewels, you will never see me without ear adornments! As for necklaces, I layer some of my more delicate and short necklaces with longer statement pieces. Each one is meaningful to me in some way—an E necklace for Estelle, my beautiful daughter, a necklace with my favourite mantra and pieces with my birthstone, sapphire.

Favourite piece from the Superette collab?

I absolutely adore the Be Your Own Light Hoops. I love the message and delicate design and the fact that you can customise it and wear it with just the pearl or star.

Any tips on how to look after our jewellery so they last for a long time?

I have two major tips! Make sure you store your jewels in a dry place away from sunlight. Leaving your jewels out and exposed (particularly plated jewellery) can cause them to oxidise and tarnish. You should also never expose the jewels to chemicals from creams and perfumes, and chlorinated or salt water. This can cause the metals to dull, react and tarnish. Treat your jewels with care and love and they will last for a long time!

I want to start layering and mixing and matching jewellery as I admittedly don’t own a lot of pieces. Where and how do I start?

I love mixing and matching jewellery—styling our campaign shoots is always a highlight for me. With necklaces, start with a delicate choker and pair it back with more statement necklaces at different lengths to create a truly layered look. Earrings, I tend to layer from largest to smallest. Start with your largest hoop or stud and work your way to more delicate adornments. With rings and bracelets, it’s all about layering and stacking! Don’t be afraid to layer delicate and chunky designs, and mix and match metals. Also, remember to choose jewels that are meaningful to you in some way so that every time you wear them you feel beautiful, inspired and empowered.

Shop the Superette x By Charlotte collab here.