Handmade

Every CatSam piece begins on the road.

We design while travelling — sketching ideas inspired by the places we move through, the craft traditions we encounter, the patterns and materials that catch our eye in a market, a temple, a workshop. When an idea feels right, we make it ourselves first. By hand. That original piece can take days, sometimes longer — but it has to exist as a real object before anything else happens.

From there, many of our pieces go through a process that bridges traditional craft and modern precision. Our handmade original is 3D scanned in Thailand to create an exact casting mold. Our casting workshop then produces the piece in silver or brass, before it moves to our finishing workshop — where it is polished, brushed for a matte finish if needed, or gold plated. Every step happens in Thailand, with people we know and trust.

Our handmade collections — worked in India and Indonesia — are different. These pieces are made entirely by hand, one at a time. Even when we produce several of the same design, no two are identical. The slight variations are not imperfections. They are proof.

For pieces requiring special materials or traditional wax casting techniques, we work with partners in Peru — connecting our work back to the craft traditions of South America that have shaped us since the beginning.

We visit all of our partner workshops regularly. We check that equipment is safe and well maintained, that wages are fair and well above local average, and that everyone involved in making our jewelry is genuinely looked after — including in emergencies when they arise. This is not a policy. It is how we work with people we consider part of our extended family.

The process from idea to finished piece typically takes one to three months, sometimes longer. We think that's worth it.

Some of our handmade pieces are also created live — at markets, festivals and events around the world. Wire wrapping in particular is something we do in front of our customers, giving them the chance to watch their piece come to life and sometimes shape it with us. Walking away with something made for you, in front of you, by the hands that designed it — that is an experience no online shop can offer. We bring it to you wherever we are.