Passion for pearls grows new business

A LOCAL evening market held during the warmer months is providing an opportunity for one young regional creator.

19-year-old Bae Denbrok from Kerang is using the events to showcase her brand Jensie Jewellery.

Ms Denbrok who started the business in November last year, specialises in pearl necklaces, pendants, earrings and bracelets and said Jensie is her middle name.

“I’ve always, always loved pearls, the elegance you feel when you put a set of pearls on,” said Denbrok.

“Growing up, I was always a big girly girl, I was always in a set of plastic pearls.

“Then, when I was 18, I was always trying to buy cute pearl necklaces and everything and I thought, you know, there’s not really that sort of unique, Baroque pearl, handmade jewellery that is in that mid-price-range point.”

Ms Denbrok said she started out with low-quality supplies to practise her jewellery-making and then invested in good quality materials.

“Upon lots of trial and error, and getting my family to test lots of trial pieces, I decided to pop it up on social media and I started doing markets maybe three months after I actually started the brand,” she said.

“It’s all sort of blossomed from there.

“It’s really just grown from my personal love for pearls. Both of my nanas always have had pearls in their jewellery boxes that I’ve admired, and I love to do things myself and get creative, so I thought what’s the harm?”

The materials Ms Denbrok uses are sourced from ethical national businesses, she said, and the pearls are from Newcastle while other metals come from Queensland.

“It’s a little bit all over the place, but I like to keep it to those ethical Aussie businesses,” said Denbrok.

“It’s all self-taught, I’ve always loved to use my hands and learn things on my own.

“It was a big trial and error process, I’ve used a few online resources, YouTube mostly, and sort of found what works for me and the supplies that I use and went from there.”

Ms Denbrok said she must travel for the majority of her markets and will continue to have a stall at the Moonlight Market in the coming months.

She said she aspires to be an art teacher and hopes to start her university studies next year.

Jensie Jewellery can be found at Bendigo’s Moonlight Market, which is held monthly over spring and summer.