Jaden Ko

Category: Accessories

Competitions: Fashion Competition 2026

If one has paid any attention to the news of late, rare metal prices are skyrocketing due to its demand in the tech/AI industry- this was particularly bad news for me, someone who started his graduate program for jewelry during the academic year of 2025 when silver prices were at an all time high. While one must do what one must- recycling metal for different projects and buying second-hand ingots- progress and environmental damage is irreversible and prestige is non-negotiable. I had to find an alternative material, something that speaks of luxury, tradition and heritage while being sustainable- for my wallet if not for the Earth. The answer I pivoted towards was hardwood. Traditionally, certain types of wood were revered as materials only for a select few- only Zulu royalties could use pink ivory, and ebony is culturally regarded as the king of woods- used in luxury ranging from high-end piano keyboards to plungers from Chrome Hearts. I strived to use as much little rare metal as possible- only using them for parts that come to the focal point. The gemstones that were used are all synthetic- While they are in fact, not natural materials, considering the impact of gemstone mining in developing countries and the impact it has on the environment, I truly believe that they are relevant for the brief. During my graduate studies, I was wavered by multitude of distractions- where do I see myself in five years? Will I get a return of investment through this education? Is my practice viable for the modern world and the perceivable future? How will I service society with my area of expertise? While these are very valid questions, at the end of the day too much hesitation is nothing but a detriment. If any of these distractions taught me anything, it is that the modern world is inherently filled with them- we are surrounded by advice we didn't ask for, and answers we did not seek. My project revolves around such contemporary distractions, and how we can preserve our integrity in these times of turmoil- by blocking out unwanted notions through limiting our sensories, in this case the sense of hearing. Initially, I made an earplug made of pink ivory adorned with gemstones and metal, yet that still felt weak for me- while my earplugs do an effective job blocking out sound, I still choose what the wearer will adhere through set stones. For the second unit, I made a silver cap with screw mechanisms with modular pieces that can be interchangeable. I made a cross for faith, and an antler for ecocentrism, but conceptually they are supposed to adhere to the wearer's chosen belief in place of silence upon commission. The jewelry piece at hand is something that is inherently singular- one must measure their circumference of their ears in order to know what size or volume they want it to be, and hardwood is a material that cannot be mass-produced to append a certain unit- at least in this context, where careful curation of volume and size is required. Moreover, upon requesting commission, one must choose what ideals and motifs that they will uphold in place of silence- if I chose it for them it would be fundamentally pointless. To me, that speaks of sustainability and singularity as much as using sustainable materials- something that is hand-crafted and curated for a single individual, where nothing goes to waste through leftover stock or materials. At the end of the day, as social animals we still need to adhere to the needs of society in one form or another. However, to quote my mother, "would you jump off a cliff if all the others did the same?" In the contemporary, metropolitan landscapes, we waiver like blades of wheatgrass- we are fed notions that are irrelevant, and products that are unimportant, due to societal pressure. Although not a healthy way to live, perhaps if one is to feel sane in a world full of charlatans, closing your eyes and covering your ears may be the easiest way for an individual to get that one shred of sanity that we all secretly desire.