Our Designer
Descended from generations of textile artisans in Indonesia’s batik capital of Pekalongan, Edwin Charmain is a multi-award-winning jewellery designer-maker specialising in the traditional arts of filigree and wire manipulation.
Deeply inspired by the intricate visual language of Indonesian batik, Charmain brings these centuries-old motifs into dialogue with the rhythms of nature and architecture. His work reimagines the symbolic geometry of batik through precious metals, blending textile heritage with metalcraft to create jewellery that is at once historical and boldly contemporary.
In reviving and evolving the ancient techniques of batik and filigree, Charmain’s practice becomes a bridge: connecting the past to the present, and tradition to the future.
“Situated between art, fashion, and craft, jewellery has become a bridge connecting my cross-disciplinary design practice.”
I’m drawn to jewellery for its flexibility—a space where I can merge techniques from graphic design and textiles to experiment with material, form, and meaning. But more than process, I see jewellery as a symbolic, poetic medium. Each piece carries layers of narrative; there is always more than meets the eye.
Charmain holds an MA in Design: Jewellery from Central Saint Martins and a BA in Visual Communication Design from Pelita Harapan University. He was awarded the Exceptional Promise endorsement by Arts Council England and became a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers.
“My work explores culture and craftsmanship—manifesting folklore, personal memory, and emotion through iconography and symbolism found in nature. Each collection is an act of research and reverence, crafted to honour the courage, wisdom, and resilience of those who came before—and those still to come."
His work has been recognised by the Goldsmiths' Craft & Design Council Awards, winning Silver in Ready-to-Wear and Bronze in Wire Innovation. He has exhibited internationally at major events including London Design Festival, Munich Jewellery Week, Ventura Future (Milan), AUTOR (Romania), and NYC Jewellery Week, among others.
From his London studio, Charmain continues to honour the spirit of Indonesian batik through jewellery while actively collaborating with master filigree artisans in Indonesia—preserving heritage through contemporary design.
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AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
2023 - The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawer | GSWD | Freeman.
2023 - GC&DC x GSWD | Wire Innovation | Bronze Awardee.
2022 - GC&DC x The NAJ & BATF | Ready to Wear | Silver Awardee.
2021 - Arts Council England | Round 8: DYCP | Grants Recipient.
2020 - Arts Council England | Exceptional Promise | Endorsee.
2019 - ZLR Betriebsimperium | ZLR Jewellery Award | Nominee.
2019 - GC&DC x GSWD | Wire Innovation | Contender.
2018 - LVMH | MAISON/0 Sustainable Intelligence Design | Nominee.
PRESS
2025 - New Earrings: 500+ Contemporary Jewellery Design| Nicolas Estrada, HOAKI. | Print.
2024 - Jewellery Of Heirloom | The Public Book. | Web.
2023 - Treasures Of Gold and Silver Wire | The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers. | Print.
2022 - Contemporary Filigree | Filipa Oliveira. | Print.
2019 - La Republica | Ispirazione Batik. | Print.
2019 - Jewellery Focus | Spring Is In The Air | E-Magazine.
2019 - Fashion Crossover | Graduate Designer: Edwin Charmain | Web.
2018 - Gasholder | LDF: Take The King's Cross Routes. | Print.
2018 - Benchpeg | The Creative Union exhibition. | Web.
2018 - London Design Festival | Creative Union | Web.
2018 - Jeroboams | HEATH Spring 2018 | Print.
2017 - Huawei Technology | Project Fragments | Runner-Up.
2017 - Vanity Fair on Jewellery | School of Rocks | Print & Web.
EXHIBITIONS & FAIRS
2025 - Crafts Council x Goldsmiths' Company | 100 Rings Exhibit | Sommerset House, London, England.
2024 - Goldsmiths' Company | Goldsmiths' Fair 2024 | London, England.
2024 - FORGE: June Showcase | Girl with a Pearl Earring | London, England.
2024 - Crafts Council x Goldsmiths' Company | 100 Brooches Exhibit | Sommerset House, London, England.
2023 - GSWD | Treasure of Gold and Silver Wires | London, England.
2023 - Goldsmiths' Company | Goldsmiths' Fair 2023 | London, England.
2023 - Lethaby Gallery | Design Transforms 2023 | London, England.
2023 - Scottish Gallery | Contemporary Filigree | Edinburgh, Scotland.
2022 - Goldsmiths' Company | GC&DC 2022 | Goldsmiths' Crafts & Design Council.
2021 - UK ACJ | 2021 Open | Association for Contemporary Jewellery.
2020 - Katharina Kraus | Near & Elsewhere | NYC Jewellery Week.
2020 - Schmukgalerie Silbermann | Where I Draw The Line | Munich Jewellery Week.
2019 - Artistar Jewel | Milano Jewellery week 2019 | Milan.
2019 - Wanted Design | Wanted Design 2019 | Industry City, Brooklyn.
2019 - AUTOR | AUTOR Fair 2019 | National Teater, Bucharest.
2019 - Organisation In Design | Ventura Future 2019 | BASE Milano.
2019 - Schmukgalerie Silbermann | IN FLUX | Munich Jewellery Week.
2019 - Goldsmiths' Centre | Getting Started 2019 | Getting Started.
2018 - Central Saint Martins | Creative Unions | London Design Festival.
2018 - Central Saint Martins | CSM Emerge | The Degree Show Two.