Today we’d like to introduce you to Linh Nguyen. She and her team shared the story about BẠC with us below:
“It all began with a family heirloom silver necklace designed and made by my mother. BẠC is a special dedication to her” – Linh Nguyen
In Vietnamese, BẠC /bak/ means Silver
Co-founded and designed by a Mother-Daughter duo, Liên Hoang & Linh Nguyen, BẠC is an ode to our beautiful country – Vietnam, celebrating the Traditional Vietnamese Silversmithing – a Quintessential Cultural Craft and highlighting the exquisite craftsmanship of the Vietnamese Artisans. Started from a mutual personal passion with Vietnamese Silver Jewelry, BẠC completes the puzzle, a special bond between a Mother and her Daughter.
BẠC offers well-curated and high-end silver wearable art. The collection is a contemporary take on Heritage Jewelry where Cultural Values fuse with Timeless Design. Dated back to the 18th Century, silver decoration, accessories and jewelry were served as daily necessities among the Vietnamese Monarch and Elites. BẠC reveals the heritage origin of the Vietnamese Silversmithing and the “unknown heroes” behind this Cultural Tradition, the skillful Artisans who have mastered the arts for generations. Over the years, as the world transforms and depends more on technology, old traditions begin to fade. It is our mission to protect and preserve Vietnamese Silver Arts.
One of the key inspirations behind the curating & designing process is the beauty of Vietnam. Despite the tiny size, the country is a burst of diversity from the North to the South with 54 ethnic groups embracing their own languages, traditions and subcultures.
BẠC’s Timeless Collection highlights the beauty of the Tribal Communities from the Highland to the Mainland’s historical Indochine culture. Pieces from BẠC are the bridge that connects the Old and the New Worlds, carrying their own unique stories. BẠC is traditional yet prevailing. Using both pure (999) and sterling (925) silver, each piece is hand-crafted, carved, buffed and polished to the finest details with a touch of “family secret” silversmithing technique.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It is an ambitious project but I am glad that I have my mother by my side. We both contribute in the curating/creative process then the design will be made by the local Artisans. All of the silver masters we work with are from traditional silversmith families or have been in the industry for more than 20 years.
I think one of the challenges is the long-distance management. My mother manages the production side 3000 miles apart from where I live so daily communication is THE key. We always create a detailed agenda before speaking to each other. I also very much involved in communicating to the silver masters when it comes to quality control.
Being a small, family-owned business; I think most of us would feel like we are “overworked” sometimes. It is only my mother and I so we do everything from scratch: branding, website, marketing, sales/wholesales, logistics. It could feel overwhelming but hey, when something is worth it, we thrive our best to make it work! We are proud of our origins, our heritage, our local talents – this is enough to motivate us every day.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
As mentioned, BẠC is founded by my mother and myself. We a small, women-owned, family-owned business specializing in curating and creating Vietnamese fine silver jewelry using pure (S999) and sterling (S925) silver.
There are three things that set us apart from others:
– BẠC’s Design: we want to approach Heritage Vietnamese Silver Jewelry with a contemporary point of view. All of our designs are inspired from the traditional jewelry of our Ancestors (for ex: the KIỀNG neckwear is a traditional item of Vietnam). Cultural elements such as Vietnamese national flower – Lotus or Holy Animals are widely incorporated in the carving details. These elements have been practiced historically and traditionally by generations of silversmith families dated back in the 18th century. They were also popular to use in the household of Royal families; each element has its own meaning that showed the hierarchy, status and power of the Vietnamese Monarch. We are taking all of these historical stories into the design of BẠC. Hence, each piece means more than just a piece of jewelry. It is a personal story only made for you – we hope the wearer establishes a connection when wearing BẠC.
– Traditional Craftsmanship: Vietnamese Silversmithing was a quintessential art form of Vietnam, we strongly believe that it is still a crucial art that needs to be celebrated nowadays. The heritage craft was originated in Northern Vietnam in the 18th century and had become significantly important to the Vietnamese Culture. It has gotten very famous that multiple Silversmith Heritage Villages were formed to accommodate the demands. Unfortunately over time, this craft has faded away as we become more dependent on technology. There are only 2 – 3 Heritage Villages in the North that are still preserving this craft. At BẠC, we are proud to work with the Artisans who are only using the traditional carving techniques. Each piece are 100% handmade with the finest. The craft is labor intensive, a more “simple” piece takes approx. minimum of two full days working.
– An ode to Vietnam: The country is full of inspirations and we would love to share them! We want to incorporate stories about Vietnam at BẠC, highlighting the history, culture, art and stories of the country. Pieces from BẠC are named after a meaningful Vietnamese word or are kept after their original names. On our website, you will notice that we keep a balance between e-commerce and stories about the country. We believe more than ever, it is important to embrace our identity and honor our origins. Authenticity is one of the keys to success.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Authenticity Exquisite Craftsmanship
Timeless designs
Rich in cultural values
Contact Info:
- Website: baccollection.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_baccollection_/
Image Credits
Ti Chu Photography
