Maximalism is back in a big way, and we’re seeing it not just on our social media feeds—not just through street style snaps and fit checks—but also in season collections by fashion houses. Runway presentations this year show bold, eye-catching jewelry adorned with charms in all shapes and sizes, adding color, texture, and character to structured pieces.
American Vogue calls it the “everything and the kitchen sink necklace.” Our FYPs have called it dopamine dressing, Y2K nostalgia, a return to craft and whimsy.
Maybe it’s a rebellion against minimalism and the clean aesthetic. Maybe these troubling times just call for a bit more reminders of what brings us joy. Whatever the reason behind this recurring trend, what’s certain is that the appeal of the make-it-yourself accessory remains.
Pop girlies we look to for style inspiration—from Bini to Nadine Lustre to Mimiyuuuh—have had one particular brand as their go-to for arm and neck candy: Russet Accessories, known best not just for customizable jewelry but also for their unique charms handcrafted by the team themselves.
From DIY to thriving business
Russet Accessories was established by Stef Mesina in 2012, a college student then, as a project while she was working on her thesis. “That was the time na nauso ‘yong mga trinkets, mga arm candies, and stuff. Eh, my motto in life is, ‘if I can’t buy it, I’ll just do it.’ So DIY has been my passion ever since,” she says. What was once a one-woman team eventually evolved to include Stef’s sister Gab and their long-time friend Sammy Changcoco.
“Before, I used to just accept commissioned pieces for friends and family, especially for weddings,” she adds. “And then I’ve been joining bazaars since 2018, 2019. So I think with the resurgence of [pop-up] markets right now, we feel at home also.”
We asked the girls behind Russet Accessories about the creative process behind some of their most in-demand designs, and what tips they can share with small creative businesses looking to make it big, too.
Take us through what a planning session is like.
Stef: First and foremost, we listen to our customers, and then we take that as our inspiration to create and to create more. So for me, I play around with the tools sa office, and then I experiment also with designs, keeping in mind what people want.
It’s always food!
[Another example] is people wanting silver jewelry from Russet, kasi, before, it was just always gold, and comfort zone ko ‘yong gold. With silver jewelry, I was super hesitant because hindi lang ako sure if it would pan out well. But after we released it, around January 2024, nagulat ako sa reception ng mga tao with silver jewelry. That’s what cemented further—na we should really listen to what the customer wants.
Gab: We listen to what the people want and what they request, and we take our time studying and refining that. Once it goes through that process, we test it out ourselves, and then we release it
Another avenue or way for us to come up with new products is listening to what we want at the same time. I feel like the perfect example for that is our handmade sculpted charms, because those are literally our food cravings!
And another process we go through when creating new products is we just play. We sit down with the raw materials, and we just lock ourselves inside HQ, and we won’t come out until we come up with something. It’s not a very tedious process. It’s our gift to ourselves also, to be able to create with no pressure if it’s going to be for a client or a commission. It’s really just to create for the sake of creating.
Sammy: Another thing we do, especially when we go to other places (for pop-ups), is we research what this place is known for. For example, when we went to Bacolod for the second time, people requested, “Bring naman inasal or chicken oil jar (charms).” So what we did was we researched and brainstormed first what charms we can do, and then refined them.
What’s the best thing about doing Russet Accessories?
Stef: Just being able to create using my hands, being able to bring to life what I have in mind. And also the client interaction. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been accepting commission works. With that, what I used to do was set up a meeting and chat about what [the client] wants. What they want to see on their wedding, or what they want to see na suot nila.
Na-e-excite talaga ako sa gano’n. That’s also why I enjoy going to pop-up events, markets, and bazaars. Iba lang ‘yong feeling interacting with people who love your work also.
And now that I have a team, I also like that I get to share with them what I’ve learned in the past 10 years. Na-so-soft ako every time na may tinuturuan akong new people, na I teach them all these things na wala namang nagturo sa’kin before.
What are some of the biggest takeaways you have from doing regular pop-ups? What advice can you give to small creative businesses that want to try?
Stef: Consistency is very important, especially when you’re starting. It’s not always going to be beautiful. It’s not always going to be happy moments. Magkakaro’n talaga ng mga times where you’ll question yourself, what you’re doing. But it’s very important to show up for yourself first.
Gab: Sometimes joining bazaars can feel like a baptism of fire. You’re thrown into something that could be very uncomfortable for you if you’re not used to large crowds. Pero you get that surge of confidence because you want to connect with people, you want to showcase what you’ve worked on.
And with pop-ups also kasi, it’s the best and rawest form of feedback you can get. Literally, if you just observe people and they pick up something, and the reaction on their face as they do that, could mean something. There’s so much data and insight you can pull from joining pop-ups.
Stef: If there’s a vision, just make sure you do it. Sometimes pag napa-paralyze ka, you end up not doing anything.
Gab: For young shop owners, it’s really important for the ego to be left at the door when it comes to this. You have to work hard for it. It’s not glamorous. I remember there was a time [when] we were like a group of five girls, and the dress code (at the event) was parang summer picnic floral dresses. Pero kami lang lahat nagbubuhat ng mga ini-ingress. Tables and Ikea bags full of charms. And if you really have to get down and dirty, do it.
And don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers. We might get too caught up in having a dream. Let’s say, “I want 10,000 followers.” Appreciate your 200 right now that’s loving you so hard, you know? And let people know that you appreciate them.
Photos by JT Fernandez
