At around ten years old, I crafted my first bracelet from a scrap of wood found in the garden. It didn’t fit well and the string wouldn’t stay put, but it was mine—a small expression of something personal. Years later, while exploring a bustling market in Asia, I watched an artisan shape silver with effortless precision. In that moment, I realized my role wasn’t necessarily to be the hands behind the work, but the mind bringing the vision to life.

That moment of clarity became the foundation for what would grow into MENDELS—a brand built not from polished perfection, but from stories and soul.