Those little things. They transform the way you feel about your day. You feel a connection with your favourite jewels because they bring out your confidence and shine a light on your natural sparkle. You look down and catch yourself smiling at the sparkle on your finger. Or you push back your hair and feel good about the sparkle dangling from your ears.
Bidiliia was born when 34 year old me found herself in rehab in October 2015, learning how to walk again after a total knee replacement. This was following a bilateral hip replacement in July 2015. The surgeries were a result of living with rheumatoid arthritis since 2006, mixed with heavy (intrusive) meds for IVF and giving birth to my beautiful daughter.
At a time where I should have been enjoying playing in the park with my daughter and connecting with other mums trying to rediscover themselves after child birth, I found myself struggling to walk 3 meters to the toilet with a walker, I was at my lowest most unconfident self for 18 months leading up to the surgery. I found solace and sense of self in jewellery. Rings are my thing.
But as a new mum with big surgery and life budget constraints it was near impossible to find high quality affordable pieces. I put my 12+ years fashion industry experience to work, making comfortable high quality jewellery that makes women feel confident EVERY DAY and make it affordable. The fashion industry is also synonymous with greenwashing, sourcing precious metals and gems from inhumane sources, making under less than ideal conditions and applying ridiculous margins - a system I refused to follow. I believe that happy artisans make happy jewellery that makes women happy. Creating ethically, responsibly and with kindness is a non negotiable values.
It took 3+ years of hard work and learning how to walk before I had the confidence to turn my business concept into reality in late 2018. We know the origins of our raw materials, use only Swarovski crystals bought from its place of origin to avoid the dark stories that are often synonymous real gems and mining gold and silver metal, we also exchange beautiful messages over the holidays and know when someone is sick in the family and root for each other.
My vision goes a little further and dives deep into the life of the artisans I have chosen whether it be our main makers in Menorca, Spain or the fair trade maker we work with in India, lending respect to their skill and artistry. Bidiliia is as much about good clean design as it is about quality and respect for art. It's at the core of my belief that kindness and respect for craft is essential.
I believe that it's easy to change how you look and feel with the right piece of jewellery and sparkly is always better but also that kindness in everything we do is what drives Bidiliia.
Feeling confident shouldn’t be reserved for women who can only spend big. I want women to feel confident every time they wear a Bidiliia sparkle, especially our rings - adjusting them as needed, allowing the ring to fit them vs adjusting themselves to fit the ring.
We're a small but mighty close knit business that works from the heart and believes in celebrating women.
Anu. xx
As a society we’re conditioned to believe that exceptional quality is unaffordable and mass manufactured. We know that's untrue. So true that we put decades of retail experience to work in making exceptional quality made in limited runs by happy artisans - affordable. In order to be sustainable ethical must be affordable.
We believe that we all deserve better.
We believe exceptional quality comes easy when your artisans are happy, happy people make happy jewellery.
We're 100% Australian owned, our social media manager is also an Australian who lives in the suburbs of Sydney. We're proud of being a 100% Aussie owned and rooted family business. Our family focused supply chain makes it easier for us to create small batch jewellery, and cutting out agents helps us keep prices affordable.
Our ethical jewellery is handmade on a small island off of mainland Spain.
We bring jewellery straight from artisans so we've skipped brokerage this in turn ensures that our sparkly jewellery is affordable so you can enjoy exceptional quality with the knowledge that a small family in Menorca keeps artisan joy alive. Our artisans support and are supported by Menorca Talayotica which links to UNESCO - an organisation that works endlessly towards creating a better human race by working towards sustainability and larger environmental issues while conserving the island of Menorca.
It's simple – we respect humans and our planet heaps more than unjustifiable profit margins and EVERYONE should wear pretty jewellery and feel fabulous.
Ethical as defined by the International Labour Organisation refers to fair wage for artisans, good working conditions (health and safety), avoidance of child labour or forced labour (slavery).
However, ethical when referring to retail and fashion at large is inclusive of socio-economic implications, sustainability and the affect on our environment.
For brand Bidiliiait has meant encompassing both definitions. By respecting our artisans, our environment and your money.
We are absolute sparkle lovers and there is method to our madness.
Our brand is dedicated to creating glamorous and sustainable jewellery, ensuring that our sparkle-loving customers can indulge guilt-free. That's why we chose Swarovski crystals – they're not only dazzling but also eco-friendly and responsibly produced.
Bidiliia respectfully operates on Ilpah in Eora nation land, and pays respect to the Cadigal and Wangal clans that are the custodians of the land we operate on. We also acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia. We recognise the continuing connection to lands, water and communities.
We acknowledge and pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and communities, and to elders past and present.
As a woman of colour living with disabilities, I (Anu) know and understand the impact of being inclusive. We work with people from different backgrounds and abilities and we serve to people from all backgrounds and abilities. We are defined by the communities that we serve.