Hannah Copeland (left) and Nicole Shadbolt (right) from bobbi. Image supplied.
Hannah Copeland and Nicole Shadbolt founded jewellery and art brand bobbi early in 2019 from their home in Auckland. The brand reflects the girlfriend’s joyful approach to life with bobbi’s range including fun and quirky handmade earrings and charming prints of original drawings. Hannah and Nicole wanted their brand to reflect their values with a focus on inclusivity, diversity and sustainability at the heart of bobbi.
We caught up with Hannah and Nicole to find out more about their brand, what inspires them and what you would never catch them wearing!
Tell us about your latest collection?
All of our earrings follow themes of girl power, wellness, colour, and quirkiness. They are put together by hand and designed with love. There are a variety of hoop sizes so that everyone can choose their sass level, as well as select from our sterling silver hook range for those with more sensitive lobes. We also sell bold and beautiful prints of original drawings that celebrate femininity and spirituality.
What made you start your label?
Hannah began making earrings for herself (a few pairs too many for one human), and Nicole pointed out with her Capricorn mind that actually, this was an opportunity! Han began frantically making and Nic started logically planning. As girlfriends, we share a lot of the same values which we agreed we wanted to underpin what we were doing with bobbi. We chose the name by flipping through the hardback “200 Women” which celebrates fierce females who have gotten shit done, which is what we wanted our namesake to inspire. Bobbi Brown was the page we landed on, and went…”yes BOBBI!”. We also found that (quite naturally) diversity, inclusivity, mindfulness and sustainability crept into all of our conversations around bobbi so those values have underpinned all of our business decisions from embracing diverse clientele, to using all sustainable packaging, to selecting charms that have the kind of positive energy we want our customers days to be filled with.
What inspires you?
Han: Diversity inspires me! People being celebrated for who they are and learning from one another.
Nicole: People inspire me, particularly entrepreneurs. I find seeing an idea being brought to life inspiring and always feel a surge of enthusiasm and drive after reading any kind of success story. I am a huge sucker for a good failure – perseverance – triumph story. It makes me instantly want to get out there and start something myself which was a driving factor behind bobbi.
Earrings by bobbi.
Describe your personal style and how it influences your designs?
Han: My style is bargain chic – is that a thing? I love wearing different looks, but my go-to tends to be band tee, culottes and sneakers. Accessories including but not limited to, lots of earrings, simple rings and a fluffy handbag.
Nicole: I love colour! I try to wear something bright or exciting with every outfit, anything from a bright top, fun shoes, colourful eyeshadow to eyecatching earrings.
What is your all-time favourite purchase?
Han: Flights to Canada.
Nicole: All the concert and gig tickets I’ve ever purchased.
What wardrobe item should everyone invest in?
Han: Heels that don’t make you want to die.
Nicole: Nothing beats a luscious fluffy coat/jacket (I have 7, lol).
Do you have a style rule you always obey?
Han: Confidence is key, even if everything decent is in the wash. Rock that bizarre combo.
Nicole: Feel good and you’ll look good vice versa.
Earrings by bobbi.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Han: Making money from something created from scratch is so rewarding, so every purchase feels like a little ray of sunshine.
Nicole: Teaching myself to create a website and manage a company.
What can’t you live without?
Han: My eyebrow pencil.
Nicole: Chocolate and being outside in nature, preferably enjoying both at the same time hehe.
Finish this sentence – You would never catch me wearing…
Han: A t-shirt with a cringe sentence on the front #LiveLaughLove #DaddysLittleGirl.
Nicole: Jandals, you could not pay me to wear them, lol.
Images supplied.