Meet Linh Nguyen | Jewelry Designer/ Co-founder of BẠC – Fine Vietnamese Silver Jewelry

We had the good fortune of connecting with Linh Nguyen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Linh, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
BẠC /ba:k/ means Silver in Vietnamese.

We are a small, WOC, family-owned business co-founded by my mother and I. Our mission is to bring Vietnamese Arts and Culture to the world through a modern interpretation of Heritage meets Contemporary Silver Jewelry Collection. The country is no stranger, people know Vietnam through Travel or Culinary. We believe Vietnamese Silver Arts, with a long history of Vietnamese Silversmithing dated back to the 18th Century, is a perfect vessel to tell the stories of the beautiful Vietnam.

My grandmother is one of the first female Vietnamese Art Curator who discovered and brought Vietnamese Art internationally. My mother (BẠC co-founder), is a designer and a painter herself. She designed and re-purposed many family silver family heirlooms and passed down to me and my brother. Wearing custom silver jewelry has been a family tradition ever since. Growing up in an artistic environment, they are my main inspirations to come up with BẠC.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Our ambitious mission is to become the pioneer Vietnamese Jewelry brand that showcases Vietnamese Arts and Cultures; putting Vietnamese Silver Design on the map through a modern interpretation of Heritage meets Contemporary Collections of Silver Jewelry. Embracing “Honor Our Origin”, BẠC is a special ode to our home, Vietnam. At BẠC, we celebrate one of Vietnamese’s oldest Traditions: Silversmithing and the Exquisite Craftsmanship behind the art work. As a small, WOC, family-owned business, we pride ourselves on Authenticity and Creativity.

There are 3 key factors that set us apart from other jewelry brands:

1. Our Design: Integrating Vietnamese Arts, textures, patterns and symbols to the design is an innovative way of telling the story of the Past to the Present and continues on to the Future. Meaningful cultural elements like Holy Animals or Lotus (Vietnamese National Flowers) are widely incorporated throughout the collection.

2. Craftsmanship: All of our jewelry are made in pure/sterling silver; handcrafted in Vietnam using traditional Vietnamese Silversmithing techniques by the local Artisans. This is another feature that you can only find at BẠC. Vietnamese Silversmithing was a quintessential art form of Vietnam. The heritage craft was originated in Northern Vietnam in the 18th century and had become significantly important to Vietnamese Culture. In the modern world, this craft is slowly fading away. We feel the urge to preserve it.

3. Future Heirlooms: We believe Jewelry means more than just a piece of accessories. Jewelry should evoke memories, resonate with emotions, fill with personal stories, connect to the Past and be able to pass down through generations. The collection of BẠC are designed to be timeless and to be passed down as Future Heirlooms, rooted in its emotional significance that only the wearers can establish with pieces from BẠC.

As ambitious as it sounds, I would like BẠC to become the pioneer Vietnamese Jewelry brand, showcasing Vietnamese Art, Cultures and Design. It has been a rocky road but I believe I will get there. No such dream is to wild to achieve, especially when I have magnificent guiding figures and passionate supporters.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Eat: Taco Truck in front of Pavillion Market on Vine / Melrose : never miss out a Taco truck in Los Angeles
Mario’s Peruvian & Seafood: 5786 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Smorgasburg L.A
Red White Ramen (best vegan ramen): 11044 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604

Visit / Hangout:
Art District / DTLA: Central Market, Row DTLA
Getty Museum/ Getty Villas
Design district: Robertson / Sunset / Beverly Blvd
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mother, Lien Hoang – BẠC’s co-founder, she is the one who sparks the flame and opens the wonderful world of silver design to me. Thank you for continuing fanning the passion in me.

My production team of exceptional, talented Vietnamese Silver Artisans, who brings the collection to live. Thank you for continuing preserving this quintessential Craft.

My grandmother, Madame Xuan Phuong, who devotes her lifetime to make Vietnamese Fine Arts known internationally. At 93 years of age, she is an active book author/writer/ documentary director/ art curator/ public speaker. Thank you for showing me it’s never too late to follow my dream.

My wife, Ti Chu, a passionate professional commercial turns pet photographer, for being my main supporter since day 1 and able to capture BẠC’s essence through wonderful photographs.

Website: www.baccollection.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_baccollection_/

Image Credits
Animalia by Ti Chu Photography