Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael and Irene of Molimo jewelry.
Hi Michael and Irene, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We started Molimo in 2020, as two people who really loved jewelry and wanted to express ourselves creatively while addressing the increasing need for sustainability and transparency in the industry. “Molimo” means soul or spirit in Lingala, the main indigenous language of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Mike was born, and a place that has experienced conflict and instability due to the mining of gold, diamonds, and other minerals and resources. Our name honors the rich culture and history of the Congo, embodying the spirit of its people who have persevered through adversity and continue to strive for a better future.
We chose to only sell jewelry made out of precious metals such as gold and platinum, as these pieces last much longer, and have the ability to be refurbished or repaired- in the case of some of our antique pieces, they’ve lasted nearly 200 years and still have plenty of life left to continue to be worn and passed on! These pieces are truly works of art and we think there’s a unique charm to owning pieces with rich history, and becoming part of the story. That’s how it all started for us– through family heirlooms and gifts, we experienced the significance of jewelry in our respective cultures from a young age, sparking our interest.
In addition, we’re working towards launching a line of our own designs, made with consciously sourced gemstones and metals. We aim to infuse elements of our heritages and cultures in our jewelry, leveraging this art form to tell our unique stories, especially since we don’t often see that represented in the vintage we source. Ultimately our goal is to create and curate jewelry that sparks joy, makes people feel confident, and has a positive impact.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We wanted to build a fine jewelry business that we felt reflected our morals and ethics, choosing to start with curating vintage and antique jewelry and branching out into custom designs made with consciously sourced materials, Without a large amount of capital to start and zero connections in the industry, growth was slow at first. Regardless, we embraced every step of the journey, and have experienced some incredible moments along the way.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We curate vintage and antique jewelry, transform parts into new pieces of jewelry, and are working on designing our own line of fine jewelry.
Any big plans?
While we started as an online-only business, in 2024 we’ve started showing up in-person at pop-ups and trade shows. In the future, we plan to show up even more in-person, since it’s truly such a wonderful experience getting to meet people interested in jewelry- whether they’re other dealers, seasoned collectors, or just starting their jewelry journey. We’re also working on a collection of our own designs, drawing inspiration from the techniques and craftsmanship of jewelry of the past, infusing our perspectives, cultures, and creative flair into our pieces.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://molimojewelry.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/molimojewelry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/molimojewelry
Image Credits
Edwin Valle
