Where We've Been (And Why We Chose to Slow Down) | Monserene

On June 7th, Monserene quietly turned seven years old.

Seven years feels like a strange milestone to write about because, in many ways, it doesn't feel that long ago that we were making jewellery simply because we loved creating with our hands. We certainly never imagined that years later, Monserene would still be here, supported by a community that has grown alongside us.

This year, we celebrated our anniversary in the best way we could have hoped for: at Mercury Festival 9th Ed.

To everyone who visited our little booth over the weekend, thank you.

Whether you discovered Monserene for the first time or have been supporting us for years, every conversation meant more than you probably realised. Some of you came by wearing pieces you had purchased years ago. Others introduced us to your friends because you wanted to share a brand you've loved. Many of you simply stopped to say hello.

Those conversations reminded us why we started Monserene in the first place.

Preparing for Mercury Fest

The weeks leading up to Mercury Fest were some of our busiest in a long time.

Like many small business owners, Monserene has always existed alongside our full-time careers. Our days would end at work, but instead of heading home to rest, we'd make our way to the studio and continue preparing for the popup. More often than not, we'd look up at the clock only to realise it was already two in the morning.

Those nights were spent making jewellery, assembling charm bar components, checking inventory, pricing products, preparing displays, packing orders, and making sure every little detail was ready before opening day.

Looking back, those late nights are some of our favourite memories.

They were long, and we were undeniably tired, but they rarely felt like work. Monserene has always been built out of our love for creating, and there is something incredibly rewarding about watching an idea slowly come to life before eventually finding its way into someone else's hands. Even after seven years, that feeling hasn't changed.

A Tiny Booth, Just the Two of Us

Our tiny table filled with our latest creations, charm bar & Akira Adjustable Necklace

When Mercury Fest finally arrived, everything we had spent weeks preparing for came together on one tiny popup table.

It was just the two of us, exactly as it has always been.

Without even needing to discuss it, we naturally slipped back into the roles we'd had at so many popups years ago. Li Yin spent most of her time chatting with customers, helping them explore different jewellery and charm combinations, while I sat at our little workbench customising each charm bar order by hand.

Watching each piece come together while hearing customers excitedly discuss the charms they had chosen reminded us just how much we had missed doing popups.

A few years ago, we used to participate in them regularly. As our careers became busier, it became much harder to fit weekend events into our schedules, and over time, those opportunities became less frequent. Returning to Mercury Fest felt like reconnecting with a part of Monserene that we hadn't experienced in a long while.

At one point during the weekend, things became far busier than we had expected. Our little table was surrounded by people waiting to customise their pieces, and we realised we had to slow things down to make sure every order received the same care and attention.

If you happened to be one of the people waiting that day, thank you for your patience <3

Seeing so many of you willing to wait while we carefully assembled each piece meant more to us than you know.

Somewhere in the middle of all the excitement, we also realised we hadn't eaten all day. By the time we finally sat down for dinner, it was almost 11 o'clock that night.

Even then, the day still wasn't over.

One thing people rarely see is that a popup doesn't end when the event closes. For us, it only ends after every display has been packed away, every box has been loaded back into the studio, every piece of jewellery has been counted, inventory has been updated, and everything is ready for the next day.

They're long days.

But somehow, they never stop being rewarding (we might be workaholics).

The Polaroids We Won't Forget

Complimentary Monserene 7th Anniversary postcard with live Polariod & 2 sets of Charm Bar customs

One of our favourite parts of Mercury Fest had nothing to do with jewellery.

With every purchase, we included a complimentary Polaroid photograph. It started as a simple keepsake for our customers, but by the end of the weekend, it had become one of the most meaningful parts of the entire experience.

As we looked through the photos afterwards, we noticed something we hadn't expected.

Most of them weren't individual portraits.

They were photos of friends.

Couples.

Sisters.

Families.

People laughing together before the camera.

Without planning it, those photographs captured exactly what we have always hoped Monserene would become.

To us, jewellery has never simply been about owning another accessory. It's about celebrating milestones, creating memories, and sharing meaningful moments with the people you love. Seeing those Polaroids lined up at the end of the weekend reminded us that, in some small way, Monserene had become part of those moments too.

We don't think we'll ever forget that (like legit).

The Reality Behind a Small Business

As grateful as we were for Mercury Fest, it also made us realise how much we had been carrying.

Building Monserene has always meant balancing it alongside our full-time careers. Every collection, product listing, website update, customer email, photoshoot, popup, and late-night packing session has happened during evenings, weekends, and whatever spare time we could find.

People are often surprised when they learn that we don't pay ourselves a salary from Monserene.

Over the past seven years, every dollar we've earned has gone straight back into the business. It's allowed us to source better materials, improve our packaging, invest in new collections, and continue creating the experience we want every customer to have.

We've never built Monserene because it was the easiest path.

We've built it because we genuinely love what we create.

Choosing to Slow Down

After Mercury Fest, we found ourselves asking a question we hadn't stopped to consider in a long time.

What kind of business do we want Monserene to become?

The jewellery industry has changed tremendously since we first started in 2019. Trends move faster than ever, new brands appear almost every day, and social media constantly encourages businesses to create more, post more, and launch more.

For a while, we felt that pressure too.

Stepping away, even briefly, gave us the space to realise that we didn't want to build a business driven by the fear of falling behind. We wanted to build one that continues creating with intention.

We want every collection to feel considered rather than rushed.

We want to keep choosing quality over shortcuts.

We want to continue designing jewellery that becomes part of someone's everyday life, not just something that's worn for a season before being forgotten.

Most importantly, we want Monserene to remain something we genuinely enjoy creating together.

Looking Ahead

Mercury Fest reminded us of something we had almost forgotten.

Not how hard running a small business can be, but why we started one in the first place.

It reminded us that our favourite part of Monserene has never been numbers or milestones. It's always been the people. The conversations across a tiny popup table.

The excitement of watching someone create a charm combination that feels uniquely theirs. The laughter captured in a Polaroid photograph. The messages from customers who are still wearing pieces they bought years ago.

Those moments are what make all the late nights worth it.

If the last seven years have taught us anything, it's that building something meaningful isn't about moving the fastest. Sometimes it's about slowing down enough to remember why you started.

To everyone who has supported Monserene over the years, thank you for allowing us to continue doing what we love. Whether you've placed an order, visited one of our popups, recommended us to a friend, or quietly followed our journey from afar, you've played a part in helping this little dream grow.

Here's to creating more thoughtfully, growing more intentionally, and celebrating many more years together.

With love,

Nicole & Li Yin

Co-founders, Monserene

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About the Authors

Nicole and Li Yin are the co-founders of Monserene, an independent Singapore jewellery brand established in 2019. Together, they design timeless jewellery using premium materials like 18K PVD stainless steel, natural gemstones, and freshwater pearls. From late nights in the studio to weekends at popups, they continue to build Monserene with a focus on thoughtful craftsmanship, meaningful connections, and jewellery made to be worn every day.