Coming 11/13/2025
Music is an integral part of my design process. The right playlist allows me to sit for hours working through ideas and concepts until they become something concrete. It sets the mood so I can channel my focus and emotion into something creative.
It’s been a tough year for Yū|Mono. We started 2025 by losing our main manufacturing partner–a huge blow on top of what was already shaping up to be a chaotic year for small businesses. In addition to scrambling to rebuild our entire manufacturing infrastructure, gold prices skyrocketed and tariffs created a lot of uncertainty. Needless to say, when it was time to work on our new collection, I had a lot of angst to work out. I think I subconsciously channeled my anxiety and frustrations from the first half of the year into my studio playlist, and punk was the perfect launching pad. Ramones, The Clash, Buzzcocks, Sex Pistols–music I don’t typically listen to, but I was craving a little cacophony and the energy felt right.
While I decided to forgo the traditional bells and whistles of punk fashion, I wanted to keep the spirit with jagged shapes and pieces that sport their own piercings. Spikes and safety pins are a little too on the nose–also, there are a lot of designers crafting gorgeous safety pin jewelry, so we didn’t need our own version of that. Instead, Anarchy is punk through a Yū|Mono lens; the result feels futuristic and a little rebellious.
We opted for hinged hoops rather than posts with backings. This style of earring is more intricate and labor intensive–therefore, a little more expensive–but earrings aren't just visible from the front. I envision the back of an ear to be like peeking behind a curtain; if it's just a jumble of posts and butterfly backings, it ruins the magic of the design. Like many of our earrings, I wanted these pieces to look good from any angle.
Anarchy features three hoops and one cuff in two different yet complimentary finishes. Let’s meet the hoops.
Sheena: This was the first piece I designed for this collection. I had sketched a few shapes in my notebook to get the creative juices flowing, and Sheena was among them. From the initial sketch, I could already envision what I wanted the final piece to look like. It also looks suspiciously like the tooth my dog had pulled that cost us $5000…perhaps that’s still lodged somewhere in my subconscious as well.
Debaser: Although Sheena is the star, Debaser is the earring I was most excited about. I envisioned Sheena as a statement piece, but as someone whose personal style leans more minimalist, Debaser is the earring I would wear every day–so of course I had to name it after one of my favorite songs.
Thorn: Available as a hoop and an ear cuff, Thorn is the perfect shape to layer with Debaser and Sheena. Thorn would also be great solo, because it’s simple but still has a little attitude. The hoops are the smallest of the new pieces, making it a great fit for smaller lobes or upper ear piercings. I’m getting a silver hoop pair for my partner to wear stacked on his left ear (I didn’t tell him, but I guess he’ll find out if he reads this. Sterling silver will be available early next year). Thorn was also made to compliment our fan-favorite Dagger Hoop with a similar silhouette.
On to the finishes:
Pierced: The pierced pieces feature a velvety matte finish with high polish “piercings.” The ultra shiny finish on the rings pops against the satin hoops, creating a unique contrast.
Fluid: To contrast the soft, matte finish of the pierced pieces, the fluid pieces are polished to a mirror-like shine, giving them a futuristic, sci-fi feel. When stacked, each shape flows into the next like liquid metal.
Rebellious, brash, and unrefined–punk music has always been a middle finger to the establishment and systems of power. Sometimes the best remedy is a little anarchy. Or in my case, a little design catharsis. Like both punk fashion and Yū|Mono’s aesthetic, all pieces are genderless.