Wonderland by Tim Tam Ong is from the idea of a haven where people turn to in order to find comfort from the chaotic and challenging world.
For some people, this is an actual place. For others, it could exist only in their minds, perhaps a treasured childhood memory. It can also take the form of a passion or even a person that brings them to a peaceful state.
“It is inevitable to face challenges and disappointments in life,” Tim Tam explains. “It’s important to have a safe place that one can turn to when things get tough.”
This concept of a “haven” is beautifully and poignantly explained in a short narration that inspired the collection. The story tells the account of a little girl who followed a golden butterfly to a place called Wonderland. Here, she finds happiness and courage—knowing that she could always go back to this place. The enchanting collection brings to life the spellbinding place that the little girl went to, containing images of a butterfly, flowers and leaves. The gemstones, on the other hand, mimic the colors that were swirling in Wonderland’s sky. “It’s a collection filled with wonder and imagination.” Tim Tam enthuses. “It captures the imagination, hope and peacefulness that a child possesses. It also captures the beauty of inner peace. I hope that the pieces give its wearers the same happiness—or even more—that it gives me.”
Tim Tam and her team of artisans worked to making these images come alive paying attention to the characteristics and movement of nature. “We worked extra hard to capture the detail,” the designer explains. “So for example, when we made the butterfly, we weren’t simply trying to create a semblance of a butterfly, we wanted to bring the butterfly to life.”
The designer also stresses the wearability of the pieces, pointing out that creativity, relatability, and versatility where characteristics consciously incorporated when designing the pieces. As always, the beautiful creations root from her deep love of the Philippines and its people. Her vision to promote Philippine ingenuity and talent only gets stronger with time.