For a decade, LACE has been at the forefront of innovation, redefining the art of jewelry design through the power of 3D printing. From its inception, Jenny Wu, the founder of LACE, set out to challenge the traditional boundaries of craftsmanship, blending cutting-edge technology with timeless elegance. Over the years, we've trail blazed a path that marries creativity with precision, transforming visionary ideas into wearable art. Today, we celebrate not just the past 10 years of pioneering achievements but also the vibrant future of a brand that continues to inspire and elevate the jewelry industry.

In 2014, I started my jewelry brand, LACE by Jenny Wu, as a passion project that merged my love for design and technology with fashion. Because of my experience with 3D printing technology from my architectural background, I launched this brand as an entirely 3D printed collection, printing in materials such as carbon fiber, stainless steel, and precious metals. Being a pioneer in translating this technology in producing jewelry, my brand quickly catapulted as a leader in this industry, producing statements pieces that are unique in its design, production, and material quality.

I have always thought of jewelry as “architecture on the body,” and we carefully consider the relationship of each piece to our body and to each other. The way I approach the design of a jewelry piece is quite similar to how I approach the design of architecture. I first think about the context where this design will be worn, so for example, the hand would be the “site” for a ring. I would then think about interesting ways that I can highlight and “fit” into this context. Most of our rings nest and stack in an unconventional ways, and each one of our necklaces has an unique way of dressing our neckline. This is most evident in the design of our Mobius ring where the ring drapes over the knuckle in a sinuous loop to create a larger statement.

The jewelry industry is quite polarizing at the moment, with the ultra-luxury brands on one end and the big box brands on the other end. Unlike LACE, there are very few brands that truly focuses on design and embraces technology. By utilizing the latest technology in design and manufacturing, we are able to create one-of-a-kind pieces in unique materials. Our design centric approach has garnered a very loyal customer base, consisted in the beginning, mainly of architects and designers. In the past 5 years, this base has grown to include celebrities, customers in tech, media, just to name a few. Fundamentally, our audience is a design conscious consumer who appreciates and believes in a brand that has a strong mission and story.

Absolutely, we believe in challenging the status quo and bringing positive change to our industry.  When we design a new type of jewelry, we go through extensive prototyping process to check its wearability and durability. Over the 9 past years, we have collaborated with various 3D printing companies around the world to incorporate the latest 3-d printing technology and material in realizing our designs. At any given time, we typically have 2-3 collaborations with a technology partner happening in the studio.

There are many ways to approach sustainability in jewelry. For our brand, we believe that sustainability has to begin with the supply chain, manufacturing, and our core business practice. LACE uses 3D printing technology to minimize waste and overproduction. We typically print to order on our premium items, and we hold small amounts of inventory at our warehouse based on ongoing demand. Because of our production technology, we are able to 3D print locally in the region that the item is being ordered, by sending the manufacturers our 3D files. This allows us to minimize carbon footprint and promote local businesses.

LACE has had an amazing cult following of designers and design aficionados. In the past few years, it has started to attract mainstream public. I feel that LACE fills a void that is missing in the jewelry industry, with its emphasis on design and technology. I’m just excited to see how far it can go! As we just opened our first retail shop in Taipei last year, our launch into the Asian market is another step in building a global brand.

To celebrate LACE's 10 years milestone, we’ll be launching new products from each of our collections throughout October! One of the highlights will be launching a new line of premium jewelry that we believe will enhance our brand's portfolio. Here is a sneak peek of our upcoming launches: