Reflections, Resilience, and a Fearless 2026
Happy New Year, style seekers!
I’ve spent the last few days tucked away in the studio, looking back at everything 2025 brought for Created By Lau. It was a year of massive highs, incredible creative breakthroughs, and some deeply personal lows that shifted my perspective on why I do what I do.
A Year of Building Bonds
2025 was the year Welded Bonds really took flight. Seeing so many of you choose a permanent piece of jewellery to represent your own unique story has been the highlight of my year. Whether it was a friendship bond or a treat for yourself, those sparks in the studio reminded me that jewellery is never just "an accessory"—it’s a connection.
On the design side, I’ve loved pushing the boundaries of mixed media. Combining the structure of polymer clay with the fluidity of resin and the softness of textiles is where I feel most at home. Seeing my "not for the fainthearted" pieces find their way to women who truly own their style has confirmed one thing: you don’t want high-street repeats. You want heart.
The Turning Point
But if I’m being "Yorkshire-honest" with you, 2025 was also a year of resilience. Losing my dad was the hardest part of my journey. It’s a loss that changes the rhythm of your life, and it certainly changed the rhythm of my business. It reminded me that the "bonds" we make are the only things that truly matter.
Because of that experience, I’ve spent the last few months working on a new direction for Welded Bonds. It’s something deeply personal, born out of my own journey through loss and love. I’m not quite ready to reveal it all yet—I’m perfecting every detail for a launch this March—but I can tell you this: it’s about more than just jewellery. It’s about keeping what matters most, close to you, forever.
Why 2026 is the Year of the Fearless
If 2025 taught me anything, it’s that life is far too short to stay in your comfort zone or play it safe. That’s why for 2026, my word is FEARLESS.
To me, being fearless means:
Pushing the Aesthetic: Using my fashion background to create even bolder, more experimental mixed-media pieces. I’m playing with new textures and scales that I’ve previously kept in my sketchbook.
Being Present: Stepping out from behind the workbench and showing you the "Lau" behind the brand. I want our connection to be as permanent as my welded chains.
Unapologetic Style: Owning my space as a high-end maker. No more comparing; just creating.
2025 was the foundation, but 2026 is where we build something spectacular. I’m ready to show up, speak up, and create with more purpose than ever before.
What about you? Looking back at your 2025, what’s pushing you to be braver this year? Have you picked a word to guide you? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Lau x