Australian Brand Kaarme Jewels Revives 90s Beaded Necklace Trend with Sophisticated Twist
Remember the vibrant beaded necklaces of the 1990s? Those chunky, colourful creations and initialed numbers that adorned every outfit are making a major comeback in 2026, but with a distinctly grown-up and sophisticated flair. One Australian brand is leading this stylish revival, transforming nostalgic accessories into high-fashion statements.
From Garage Startup to Seven-Figure Fashion Empire
Kaarme Jewels, founded by former nurse Millie Ettenfield, has evolved from a humble passion project in a share-house garage into one of Australia's fastest-growing jewellery labels. What began as Ettenfield's personal quest for bold, colourful jewellery with elegant flair has blossomed into a seven-figure fashion brand that continues to expand month after month.
The brand's remarkable journey includes scaling from a solo operation to a team of nine dedicated professionals. Kaarme has transitioned from garage workspace to utilizing two spare bedrooms and now operates across two fully-functional warehouses, demonstrating extraordinary growth since gaining significant momentum in September 2024.
The Bestselling Hali Initial Necklace: Personalised Elegance
At the heart of Kaarme's success lies the Hali Initial Necklace, the brand's undisputed bestseller that perfectly encapsulates their design philosophy. Starting at $249, each necklace offers meaningful personalisation through gold-filled initial pendants that allow customers to select one or multiple initials.
The necklace combines rich peacock agate beads with scattered freshwater baroque pearls, creating an earthy yet elevated aesthetic that transitions seamlessly from casual daytime wear to sophisticated evening outfits. This versatile piece works equally well dressed up for special occasions or paired simply with jeans for everyday elegance.
Founder's Vision: Bringing Life and Emotion to Accessories
Millie Ettenfield founded Kaarme from a profound desire to inject life, personality, and genuine emotion back into jewellery accessories. "I started Kaarme out of the desire to bring life back to jewellery," Ettenfield explained. "I've always loved fashion and jewellery, but I could never quite find pieces that felt bold and colourful with an elegant flare. So I decided to create it for myself."
Through self-taught jewellery making techniques developed in her garage and extensive experimentation with colour, form, and craftsmanship, what began as a personal passion project rapidly evolved into something much more significant. "In the beginning, I had a dream to sell fun jewellery," Ettenfield reflects. "Now, I have a burning desire to change the landscape of connection, jewellery and bringing joy to others."
Future Aspirations and Brand Philosophy
Kaarme Jewels continues to build on its extraordinary success with clear ambitions for the future. The brand aims to become recognised universally for its distinctive combination of vibrant colour, exceptional quality, and authentic craftsmanship. Ettenfield emphasises, "I want Kaarme to be a brand known by everyone for colour, quality and authenticity above all else."
This commitment to creating meaningful, personalised pieces that celebrate individuality while honouring nostalgic fashion trends has positioned Kaarme Jewels at the forefront of Australia's contemporary jewellery scene, proving that sometimes the most fashionable future involves thoughtfully revisiting the past.
