Like many indie shops of its kind, Yim Bader, named after its owner, remains an unknown outside of its avid customer base. Inside of that circle however, it’s something of a cult brand and has been featured twice in a local newspaper and a Japanese interest publication.
Yim started making jewelry from wooden beads, stones and metal wires as a hobby but it soon escalated to a business when friends and acquaintances were constantly asking her to sell the pieces to them. “They were just shy of ripping the jewelry right off my neck,” says Yim.
Before long, her skill graduated to much harder to work with materials and more intricate designs and she started consigning her collection in a friend’s shop on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia. This decision turned out to be a fortuitous one as the same friend sold the shop to Yim to return to Thailand, fully setting Yim up as a jewelry designer and retailer. Since then, it has been a tough, but constant climb to success.
She says her unique creations represent her mixed Thai and Vietnamese heritage. Some have described them as South-West Asian, Cambodian, Thai, Middle Eastern, South American to even African.
Oi’s Pick: Blue and White Wave Patterned Ring (VND 250,000)
Inspired by a trip to the US, Yim created this design to mimic the wave patterns she saw as she watched her husband surf. This delicate piece features imported and color-treated metal that can’t be found in Vietnam.
Yim Bader
32 Tran Ngoc Dien, D2
www.yimbaderjewelry.com
