MALT Jewellery was founded by me, contemporary jewellery artist Berni Freitag (she/her). All my pieces embrace a minimalist style, often with softened geometric profiles. Each item is designed and handmade by me using traditional jewellery-making techniques with only ethically sourced, eco-conscious and vegan materials.
As I handcraft all MALT jewellery, no two pieces will ever be the same and, if you look closely, you may see tool marks or other traces of the artist's hand. The choice to leave these present is deliberate and makes every item truly unique – a lasting testament to its handmade origin.
- No animal products whatsoever are used in production
- All gold and silver is either Fairtrade or 100% recycled
- All gemstones are certified fair-mined or minimal-impact lab-grown
- All MALT packaging is majority British-made and either recycled or FSC-certified as well as plastic-free,* recyclable and biodegradable
- MALT uses a unique sizing system for maximum inclusivity
- I make jewellery for everybody, regardless of gender, age or (dis)ability
HI, I'M BERNI – THE FACE BEHIND MALT JEWELLERY!
I design and make every piece of MALT jewellery by hand. I'm largely self-taught as I originally trained to be a translator (you'll notice I often use words from the foreign languages I speak to name my work!) and made the decision to go in a new direction just before turning 30.
For me, creating wearable art with a fundamentally minimalist aesthetic comes partly from a desire to lend a sense of simplicity and order to the world, which, as a neurodiverse person, can often seem chaotic and overwhelming. I want my work to be easy to understand and honest in its design.
It is absolutely crucial, too, that the little universe/gallery that I have created for my work, namely MALT Jewellery, embodies my values: doing as little harm to people, animals and the planet as possible, and actively supporting projects that aim to make the world a better place.
In my work, I take inspiration from modern architecture, interior design and industrial buildings and processes. I'm also influenced by a love of abstract art, textiles, ceramics and clothing. My jewellery is deliberately non-gendered (unisex). I aspire to create edgy pieces that are bold in their simplicity. I like to craft broadly geometric shapes but with a softened form or blurred edges, frequently incorporating inviting, tactile textures that feel soothing and inspire calm.
