A look back at how Okra started

 

Lessons in following your curiosity and listening to “the river beneath the river” of your inner knowing

 

2023 marks 10 years of Okra. Dozens of collections. Hundreds of talismans created, worn, and cherished. One cozy studio oasis nestled in the streets of Shanghai. Countless lessons learned. Okra has come a long way since 2013, and so have I — in ways I could have never expected. And it all began with a gleaming ball of wire and a twist of fate involving a mystery woman who changed my entire future. This is the story of how Okra came to be.

 
 

A gap year guided by fate

In 2013, I had a lot to be grateful for and a lot to look forward to. After three years of intense study in Shanghai, I’d won a scholarship to study fashion in Paris in fall 2014. But in the meantime, I was enjoying a glorious gap year filled with art and exploration. I spent happy, aimless hours poking through art supply stores and bookshops, letting my creativity flow down new avenues of expression. I dabbled in painting, sculpting, papier mache…whatever drew my eye and my interest. None of it truly clicked, so I kept searching. For what, I wasn’t totally sure. I just knew that something had been set in motion within me, like a gentle hum of moving water. And that it was leading somewhere big.

 

A rapid rush of inspiration in an unlikely place

And then, everything changed. On a normal day. In a random bead shop I’d wandered into out of sheer curiosity. I spotted a gleaming bundle of brass wire on a shelf and it unleashed something within me. Coiled and shining with possibility, that brass wire seemed to call out to me, just begging to be unfurled and molded into endless variations. That slow-moving river within me now rushed into rapids, the ideas flowing free and fast. And my heart shouted “yes!” to it all. Heart pounding with excitement, I paid for the wire and a few handfuls of ceramic beads, also chosen purely on instinct, and hurried home. Back at my little apartment, I spread out my precious findings on the floor and set about playing like a child, letting the materials themselves tell me what they wanted to be.

 

Giving myself over to the flow of creation

The following days and weeks slid by in a blissful blur of creativity and curiosity. Those very first creations — beaded rings, necklaces, and sculptural pieces — were more than just jewelry or wearable art. They were also my liberation. They were what got me out of bed in the morning and excited about life. So excited that I wanted to photograph them and share them with friends and family.

My very first photoshoot consisted of me, my sister’s old camera, and a tree at a local park — the perfect environment to reflect the meditative, organic process that produced these treasured pieces. I was immersed in arranging it all when a voice surprised me.

 

The twist of fate that changed everything

“How much for this ring? And this necklace?” A mystery woman had wandered over to my little outdoor set and completely taken me by surprise. Not only was she drawn to what I’d made, she was willing to pay money for it. I couldn’t believe it. With a fluttering heart and a racing mind, I came up with a price on the spot. She left with a ring and a necklace, and I left with 250 yuan in my pocket — a lot of money for a recent graduate. But I received something even more valuable, something priceless, from that kind stranger that day. Belief in the potential of my creations. Knowledge that there was an audience for my work. A glimmer of what might be possible for me on this new path. Most of all, she gave me confirmation that I could trust the current of my inner knowing to carry me to safe shores.

 

Taking a big risk to follow my curiosity

That brief encounter in the park changed my life forever. Soon after, I started selling my handmade creations at art fairs and markets, slowly growing a dedicated following. The brand was officially born on December 5, 2013, when I chose the name Okra, after my mother’s ritual of drinking okra-infused water to start each new day. And as for my scholarship in Paris? Suddenly, it didn’t feel right anymore. An inner floodgate had been opened, unleashing something incredibly exciting and totally unexpected. I had no desire to stem the tide that was rising within me. So I decided to say no to Paris and yes to Okra.

Yes to my curiosity.
Yes to the unknown.
Yes to the wisdom of the river beneath the river within me.
Yes to trusting that I would be okay.

My very first market in Shanghai

The early days of hand-drawn packagings

 

Okra then and now

And so, after 10 years and the incredible experiences and amazing community that’s formed around Okra, its purpose and mission remains the same as it was that day in the park, long before I knew what it — and I — would ultimately become. To inspire your inner knowing. To nurture your inner flame. To follow your curiosity. To flow with your river beneath the river.

 

Thank you for joining me on this journey and for supporting Okra. None of this would be possible without you.

May your inner knowing always guide you home to the serenity of your island within.

Julie

All Okra pieces are handcrafted from precious metals and other gifts from the earth. These unique adornments become personal talismans that empower, enhance, and elevate your essence. We invite you to explore the shop and see what resonates.

 
Julie Pang