មាលា /mielie/
n. lei, wreath, garland, braid made of flowers
n. row, line, series, succession, set
n. hat (usage: royal) ETY: Sanskrit, Pali mālā (source)
Definition
The Story
I was coming across a number of clay and acrylic earring makers on social media. I wondered about what such earrings would look like if they were Khmer-inspired. I began looking into acrylic material, laser cutting, and jewelry making. I started off with a handful of sketches and debuted with three designs representing common imagery found in Khmer culture. This was the start of មាលា Mealea Collection.
Mealea Collection is Khmer imagination turned tangible (jewelry, artworks, literature, and merch). It's my commitment to cultural preservation in my own way and honoring my lived experiences as a 2nd generation indigenous Khmer/Krom American. At its core, it's a honest celebration of Khmer culture and heritage.
I hope you love my creations just as much as I enjoy creating them! ♡