We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Caprice-Kwai Ambersley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Caprice-Kwai, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

By Caprice-Kwai is a handmade statement jewellery brand, created by a young black disabled woman trying to create change and representation within the fashion industry.

By Caprice-Kwai sells a range of handmade colourful and bold statement jewellery, which includes earrings, studs and rings. Along with, a range of accessories.

Our jewellery designs are unique and are one of a kind, with the aim to make people feel empowered, confident, seen and represented – despite age, race, ability or gender!

The problems By Caprice-Kwai strives to solve is the lack of representation there is for marginalised groups. We want people to feel empowered and represented when they wear By Caprice-Kwai.

By Caprice-Kwai is a slow fashion jewellery/accessory brand, which means everything is made in small batches and jewellery is created in an environmentally friendly production process. This approach allows more time to focus on the design aspect, which ensures that each piece is high in quality and lasts longer for the customer.

Our mission is to make people feel seen, represented, empowered and confident.

Caprice-Kwai, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

​My name is Caprice-Kwai and I am 22 years old. I launched my very own handmade statement jewellery and accessory brand – By Caprice-Kwai in 2021.

I have lived with a disability since the age of 10, which has shaped who I am today. I have problems relating to my legs, mainly with my left leg where I have been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis, Joint Hyper-mobility and Chronic Pain Syndrome.

Fashion has always been a big part of my life, especially since becoming disabled because it has helped me express who I am and has made me feel much more confident within myself. My disability truly inspired me to start my business.

Accessories in particular, have played a big part in my sense of style throughout the years – they have allowed me to express myself, especially on days where I haven’t been able to wear specific clothes that I like, because of the ongoing changes with my disability or when I haven’t even been able to dress myself after surgery.

Being a young black disabled woman, I have experienced endless disability discrimination and hair discrimination – which is why I pride my jewellery designs on inclusivity and representation for everyone.

By Caprice-Kwai sells a range of handmade statement jewellery, which includes earrings, studs and rings. Along with a range of statement accessories. Each By Caprice-Kwai piece is hand poured using resin, sanded and crafted by myself in my bedroom studio.

Since launching By Caprice-Kwai, I have gone on to host several different pop-up shops across London. I was recently invited to Meta (Facebook) to host three different pop-up shops for their workforce, for Mental Health Awareness Week.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

My most effective strategy for growing clientele has been hosting pop-up shops in person! I’ve been able to connect with so many different people in a wide range of communities. People have been able to see my handmade statement accessories in person, which has really helped expand my customer base.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I officially launched my business the day I started university! I remember not sleeping that night, as I was preparing PR boxes in celebration of my website launch – that’s how passionate I was and am.

I originally applied for their accessories course, but was eventually moved to their fashion course due to lack of numbers because of Covid.

I decided to attend university to learn new skills to better my business and expand my products.

Unfortunately, while attending university, I experienced disability discrimination where my tutors refused to put my reasonable adjustments in place. I was even told that I was only the second disabled student with a physical disability, they had ever had on their fashion course.

This was devastating to me, as I was there to better my brand – By Caprice-Kwai.

After experiencing discrimination from several members of the university, I decided to put in a formal complaint. After weeks of writing letters and meetings with their complaints department – I was awarded a significant amount of financial compensation.

I invested my compensation into my business, and started doing pop-up shops to get By Caprice-Kwai out there. This was definitely a full circle moment for me and my business.            

Contact Info:

• Website: www.capricekwai.com/shop
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/bycapricekwai
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/bycapricekwai

Image Credits
First image photographer credit. Instagram: @molliemanningcreative