Loud, Affordable Rope Jewelry

We’ve highlighted a dozen or so rope-centric jewelry designers in the last two years, and the process is always the same: First, we dote on them and praise their ingenuity. Next, we imagine ourselves in their wares at art gallery openings and parties filled with intellectuals. Finally, we take off our blinders and realize that a necklace made from fishing supplies should never cost 500 bones, and we swear off the lot for good.

Old habits die hard, however, and we were lured in by Katherine-Mary Pichulik.

The Cape Town, South Africa-based designer is a trained pastry chef and lifelong dabbler in crafts and trinkets.


















Her shockingly affordable rope, thread, and wax cord creations fall into two categories: simple and eccentric. Stack on long color-block loops and thick rope bracelets to start, or go bold yet sleek with a jumbo pretzel-knot necklace in red. Our favorite looks — double-strand necklaces with coral cluster pendants or woven-on bells — have just the right amount of whack.  

On the wear-if-you-dare end of her spectrum sit structural, loopy necklaces, collars, and earrings that look plucked from a reef. 

We’re hooked.

Available at pichulik.com, $22-$105.

Photos: Courtesy of Pichulik