“We attract what we think about, and it’s so important to always keep our thoughts positive, even when things aren’t going well. There’s always something to be grateful for, and if you focus on that, the good only gets better.” If there were an essence to capture Rachel Wong, it would be a calm sense of knowing, paired with a razor-sharp instinct for the pulse of the present. Today, the tastemaker and entrepreneur commands a devoted following of fashion, culture, and wellness enthusiasts through successful ventures, including her self-care line Nunu Club. The very thing that makes Wong a force to reckoned with? A voice that is cutting-edge but, at its heart, authentic.
Wong’s journey began during the rise of blogging, where she piqued interest with a smorgasbord of thoughtfully curated lifestyle content. A foray into Instagram, paired with a soul-baring sense of self-expression, saw her reach skyrocket, cementing her presence in the realms of luxury fashion and beauty.
“I’ve always been obsessed with dressing up since I was young,” Wong laughs, reminiscing. “My mother would catch me in her wardrobe, and when she went to work, it was my time to play with her make-up. Growing up in an era without the constant presence of the internet, I would look through pages of magazines and thought the women in there looked so beautiful. I was also obsessed with everything related to Paris Hilton. I’ve never wanted to emulate somebody, though; I just wanted to take an idea and make it fit into what I like—dressing my body.” She adds, “In the past year or so, I’ve realised I want to inspire others. I want to tell younger girls who look up to me that they’ll figure it out. Dressing up is an expression of ourselves, how we feel, and this positivity I’ve been feeling lately? I want to help others feel it.”
It’s fitting, then, that Wong’s latest collaboration—six months in the making—focuses on just that. As we catch up on a rainy afternoon, her partnership with Singaporean jewellery label Éclat by Oui is already the talk of the town. And it’s easy to see why: with 9 covetable designs that perfectly blend both the brand’s ethos and Wong’s signature style—the smiley face motif, for example, which also featured in Nunu Club’s skincare range—the collection strikes a playful yet polished balance. Founded in 2017 by Singaporean entrepreneur Ethel Neo, who sought to create the perfect travel-friendly jewellery, Éclat by Oui quickly captured the attention of those in search of chic, versatile pieces.
Here, Wong shares her creative process during the collaboration, discusses the power of female solidarity, and offers a glimpse of what’s to come.
How did you first come across Éclat by Oui and how did the collaboration come about?
I had known about the brand for a while, and what I really loved about it is that the owner is a woman. I love when women collaborate with other women, and I think, as a collective, we need to support each other rather than seeing each other as competition. It’s also amazing that Éclat by Oui is a local brand. The backstory is that Ethel wanted to create jewellery that women could wear as travel jewellery. Sometimes we don’t want to put on a sentimental piece, but we also don’t want to compromise on sparkle. I think it’s great that women now have that option. I never thought I would design a jewellery collection, but when Ethel reached out to me, I was like, “hell yes!”
What was the inspiration behind Rachel Wong x Éclat by Oui?
I wanted the collection to represent me, and I’ve always been obsessed with smiley faces. I even have a tattoo on my wrist. When I was younger, I went through abuse and an incredibly hard period in my life. I made the choice to seek help and realised that, while life can’t always be perfect, I can choose to be happy. The smiley face is a reminder to be positive, because I honestly have so much to be grateful for. The clouds represent how proud I am to be a dreamer. I think it’s important to remember that you can dream big, and whatever you dream, you can achieve.
Tell us about the creative process behind the collection.
I learned so much from creating this jewellery collection. Ethel was right by my side, telling me what could and couldn’t be done. It involved a lot of drawing—my sketches first. After that, she started making samples and would send them to me. We basically edited as we went along. An example of this was the smiley faces. Initially, I thought it was too big. When she asked me how small I wanted it, I said, “As humanly and craftsmanship-ly possible!” (laughs). I wanted it to be very, very small, and she made it happen. There were also mood boards. I love seeing how other people stack their jewellery, but I wanted this collection to feel fresh in a way that maybe people hadn’t considered—stacking thread bracelets with regular bracelets, for example.
“The smiley face is a reminder to be positive and the clouds represent how proud I am to be a dreamer. I think it’s important to remember that you can dream big, and whatever you dream, you can achieve.”
Could you walk us through the significance of the key pieces?
Let’s start with my personal favourite, which are the thread bracelets. I wanted something that people could wear daily. I think the wearability and versatility of the thread bracelets is key—you can layer them with other bracelets, or wear them on their own. They’re very dainty and cute. Then came the earrings. Not everyone wants to wear big hoops every day, right? So I wanted to offer an option that’s easier to style, even with a very simple outfit like jeans and a T-shirt. We also played around a lot with the colours of the eyes, changing them to different shades, but ended up going with holes in place of the eyes as it made each piece stand out more.
Then there are the necklaces which are so chic when layered, too.
Yes, I love layering necklaces! For this collection, I wanted to make everything in both yellow gold and silver. When I was younger, I used to think that if you wore gold, you had to wear all gold jewellery or if it was white gold, then everything had to be white gold. But I wanted it to be more fun, you know? You can mix and match. Honestly, dressing up shouldn’t have so many rules.
How did you choose the materials for the collection?
I always envisioned this collection in both silver and gold. And for me what was important was to have an option for everyone. Most of Éclat by Oui’s pieces come in plated gold and there’s also a more expensive version of having it in full gold, so you can adjust it to what works best for you.
How would you personally style some of the items?
I feel like these pieces go with anything and everything. I wear them to luxury fashion events and I love seeing how people style them. It’s amazing! They look great with something as simple as a casual T-shirt and jeans, or paired with a nice dress.
How do you want people to feel when they wear a Rachel Wong x Éclat by Oui piece?
I want to spread a message of positivity. I want them to feel inspired, definitely. Whether it’s something as small as feeling motivated to take better care of themselves or reminding themselves why they’re so lucky.
Now that you’ve worked on a jewellery capsule, is there another dream collaboration you have in mind?
Oh, my God, if you’re talking wish list—definitely, there’s one name that comes to mind. I love Murakami, even before his recent Louis Vuitton collaboration. I’ve always been a fan of his work. I own some of his art, and it’s just so happy and cute. Art doesn’t have to be serious, right? Art is subjective, and a lot of things you look at are open to interpretation. And with Murakami, it’s just so fun.
What’s next for you?
Over the past year and a half I’ve started taking care of my body by exercising. I love pilates and I’ve always wanted to do an athleisure collection. That will be coming out soon so please look out for it as we are really excited. And secondly, I’m working on revamping my brand, so watch this space!
