Phawa- How it all started

Phawa is a Jewellery Designer and Gemologist based in London from Myanmar.

I had the chance to cross paths with Phawa while we studied Gemmology in London a year ago. Great minds think alike, so we got along directly, and I had the opportunity to listen to how it all started for Phawa and Jewellery and beyond. When I think about this incredible artist, a few words come to my mind: Talented, Kind, and Open-Minded.

To tell you her story, I need to tell you who is Phawa for me and what makes her so special. First and foremost, her smile can light up a room. Her je-m'en-foutiste is hilarious and inspirational because she is never apologetic for who she is and her decision. And her talent, her very exquisite 'taste' ( for this one, I literally copy paste what she told me just a week ago; she is very full of herself sometimes, also something she said that she didn't mean to and was actually the funniest thing of the night). She is truly passionate about jewellery, and we could spend hours and hours and hours talking about it, arguing, going everywhere and so on and just about jewellery and let me tell you, if you start talking about jadeite, you're done, she will never stop, and at the end, it is what I love about her, she is so into it, and that's beautiful and inspiring to see and being her friend is very special. This article aims to introduce you to her and showcase her rawness and the behind-the-scenes of her creations and processes. 

Phawa Sine Nwe Sketch - How it all started

Phawa shared that her father has always been her role model, sparking her fascination with jadeite through his stories and deep admiration for its beauty. Adorned with jadeite, her mother became a daily muse for her designs- a quiet yet powerful influence.

Despite growing up surrounded by gemstones, Phawa's dreams didn't initially orbit the jewellery world. Fashion was her first love. "I remember watching Fashion One at home," she reminisced, "studying the models' figures and letting my imagination run wild. I wanted to be a fashion designer." Her comment about "the figure" struck me- something is revealing in how she observes form, structure, and detail. It's a lens she's carried into jewellery, crafting pieces that consider not just the story but the wearer, the silhouette, and what truly fits an individual.

When Phawa chose to study Jewelry Design, she fully leaned into her roots, heritage, and experiences. It felt like the right moment to explore and experiment to make jewellery her canvas.

Beyond the Shiny Object with Phawa

Phawa's second attempt marked a turning point for her final-year creation as a BA in Jewellery Design. Her process, documented in her book, reveals a relentless cycle of trial and error. Page after page, you see her experiments, each iteration carrying the weight of time and effort.

"I lost count of how many times I failed," she admitted. But for Phawa, failure wasn't the end-it was a lesson, a way to uncover what didn't work and move forward. She spoke of resilience, embracing setbacks and starting over from scratch, each time armed with sharper skills and deeper understanding. Her masterpiece came to life through these struggles- a testament to perseverance and the art of turning mistakes into progress.