Simon Williams

Simon Williams creates eccentric crystal-inspired jewellery with the beauty of his work inspired by the fashion industry, going beyond being fun and wearable.

The process of creation is also out of the ordinary, with each piece made using moulds, resin and an experimental approach.

“I love the natural forms that crystals make, so I’ve taken that inspiration of crystals and created moulds, and have created work by casting resin into the moulds,” says Simon. “With [that] particular process, it involves a lot of mixing and matching pieces of crystals to create my own shapes and pieces, so it’s not just casting a singular stone.”

Simon graduated from Uni SA in 2005 with Honors and undertook a mentorship with the Helpmann Academy. Since graduating, his practice has evolved almost entirely away from the fabricated sterling silver construction pieces that he created at the beginning of his jewellery career.

Simon says his new aesthetic developed when he began using recycled materials.

“I’ve worked in the eyewear industry for 9 years, so I’m constantly getting handed broken pieces which normally go in the bin, so I’d kind of give them new life by up-cycling them into something a little bit more wearable as an accessory,” he says.

This unconventional ethos follows through in USE. Even the naming of the brand has a little quirk to it.

“The name came from a bit of a fun idea – kind of bad language. I grew up in the Northern suburbs, so the phrase ‘youse guys’ and ‘youse girls’ was quite prevalent. The word ‘use’ [relates because] I like to make things quite wearable, robust and not fragile.”