ABOUT AMALA

AMALA
Fine jewellery

The jewellery brand AMALA was founded in 2005 by Sophia Kirsch-Wahl. Under this name, the graduate designer and trained goldsmith designs jewellery in the precious metals gold and silver in combination with high-quality gemstones, finely shimmering pearls, and experimental materials. The style is characterized by the modern timelessness of the pieces, which are always a homage to old craftsmanship and tradition in a playful—often humorous—way. In addition to countless publications in specialist and popular magazines such as Elle, the jewellery magazine Brigitte, Wedding, InStyle and fashion blogs, two pieces of jewellery from this line, the classic heart ring and the legendary ram ring, are in the collection of one of the most important arts and crafts museums in Germany, in the traditional gold and silversmith town of Schwäbisch Gmünd.


HEART UP
The young design classic

The AMALA heart ring from the HEART UP line is elegant, refined and modern – a design classic by jewellery designer Sophia Kirsch-Wahl, distinguished by its unmistakable shape.
Finely shimmering yellow gold, rose gold or sterling silver is lovingly combined with delicately lustrous pearls or brightly coloured stones.
The exquisite and surprisingly charming character of the rings is defined by their carefully crafted polymer body, made in Germany and used as a distinctive design element.
The heart ring is worn by couples as an extravagant wedding ring or as a special engagement or friendship ring. It is also given as a gift for Valentine’s Day or other special occasions – and, of course, chosen as a gift to oneself. Whether worn at lively parties, in the club, at the theatre or in everyday life, the different versions complement a wide variety of styles and outfits.
The award-winning designer’s jewellery has been featured in specialist journals and renowned magazines such as ELLE, Schmuckmagazin, InStyle and Brigitte. The AMALA heart ring is also part of the collection of one of Germany’s important museums of arts and crafts in Schwäbisch Gmünd, a city with a long tradition of gold- and silversmithing.


DOLL UP SISTER
From vintage to kawaii

In 2009, Sophia Kirsch-Wahl founded the second brand, Doll Up Sister. It is the young, trendy, fashion-conscious counterpart to the high-end jewellery brand AMALA, which stands for high-quality, personalized jewellery made of gold, silver, pearls, and gemstones. Doll Up Sister was created on the one hand out of a love for historical, hand-engraved steel moulds and on the other hand out of the desire to bring them back to life in a new splendour and new interpretation. This has been achieved. The decorative brass elements embossed with these moulds are combined with a wide variety of materials, such as gemstones, antique Bohemian glass beads, and specially hand-modelled figures. Original steel moulds from 1880 to 1960 are used, which - inspired by the Victorian era or Art Nouveau - give the jewellery its individual vintage character. Even in the past, they were designed for costume jewellery and can be seen, for example, in the jewellery for the film Breakfast at Tiffany's.

And what does Kawaii mean? The Japanese term can be translated as “cute,” “sweet” or “lovable.” It describes an aesthetic concept associated with innocence, playfulness and childlike charm, in which cuteness has become a distinctive and widely recognised stylistic element in fashion, design and everyday life.
This aesthetic provides a recurring source of inspiration for the designer, particularly in the use of vibrant colours and charming figurative details. One of its most distinctive expressions is the Maiko Mouse, the brand’s mascot and a signature character of DOLL UP SISTER. In addition to serving as the brand logo, the Maiko Mouse was created as a piece of jewellery and received the Inhorgenta Award in 2011, one of the internationally recognised awards in the jewellery industry.


THE PRODUCTION

AMALA is based in Konstanz, a beautiful, idyllic town on Lake Constance.
Here, everything that belongs together is put together by hand. It all starts with the idea and design of a new piece of jewellery. The "soul" of the three collections is formed by the figures or jewellery elements, which are initially modelled by hand in wax and then, depending on the collection, cast in gold, silver, or jewellery brass. They are then soldered together and combined in various ways. This is followed by the careful setting of the stones and the loving cleaning and finishing by hand.

SOPHIA KIRSCH-WAHL

Sophia Kirsch-Wahl, Dipl. Des. FH is a trained goldsmith and product designer with a focus on jewellery and accessories. Before she devoted herself entirely to her own collections, she designed and created pieces of Jewelry, but also associated components such as presentation modules, cases, perfume bottles, or trade fair stands and exhibition areas for well-known companies. She also taught for several years at a vocational college for design, jewellery, and equipment. In addition to her focus on design, she is also interested in art and fashion, which is why, among other things, she completed a several-month internship in the costume department of the Stuttgart State Theatre when she was younger. Sophia Kirsch-Wahl has participated in numerous exhibitions and competitions since 2000, which has earned her awards and prizes, including the Inhorgenta Award 2011. Her pieces are known through countless publications in specialist and popular magazines, such as Elle, Schmuckmagazin, Hochzeit, Brigitte, and InStyle, to name just a few.