Showcase

Old as New

Amina Badylbayeva

Profile picture of Amina Badylbayeva

I am a jewellery designer based in London, my work explores the emotional resonance of memory and material. With roots in Central Asia, my creative practice is deeply informed by personal and collective nostalgia, transforming everyday, often overlooked objects from childhood into contemporary, wearable art.

I am a jewellery designer based in London, my work explores the emotional resonance of memory and...

Drawing from childhood memories, this collection reimagines objects from Amina’s early years - such as a wired telephone, toys, buttons, and Persian carpets - into modern jewellery. These objects have been designed using metal and upcycled acrylic, materials that themselves carry a sense of history and transformation. Rather than mourning the past, these designs celebrate it, offering the wearer a portal to reconnect with intimate and cherished memories through playful forms, honouring the lasting beauty of forgotten everyday objects. These pieces act as reminders to embrace the past, crossing boundaries of time and place.

Interpretative text by Aalia Ahmadi, BA (Hons) Culture, Criticism and Curation

Final work

  • Hair piece inspired by wired telephone made from copper and up cycled telephone buttons
  • Brooch inspired by up-cycled vintage button, made using white metal wire and copper
  • Ring inspirited by 20 years old teddy bear, made from white metal and acrylic off cuts
  • Necklace inspired by wired telephone made from copper and up cycled telephone buttons
  • Necklace inspired by wired telephone made from copper and up cycled telephone buttons
  • Brooch inspired by carpet pattern, made from Copper, brass and steel wire
  • Bracelet inspired by buttons, made from wood, white metal and leather cord
  • Bracelet inspired by buttons, made from wood, white metal and leather cord
  • Earrings inspired by wired telephone, made from copper, up cycled telephone buttons and white metal wire
bracelet inspired by world telephone, made from copper and up-cycled telephone buttons

Redial

The Redial bracelet mirrors the aging motion of a worn-out telephone wire, flexible yet increasingly difficult to control as it stretches over time.

Copper, plastic telephone buttons

Research and process

  • Button pieces design research and development
  • design development and making
  • Design development for telephone and carpet pieces

Share this project

Old as New

Drawing from childhood memories, this collection reimagines objects from Amina’s early years - such as a wired telephone, toys, buttons, and Persian carpets - into modern jewellery. These objects have been designed using metal and upcycled acrylic, materials that themselve...

A link to this page has been added to your clipboard

Browse related work