One maker, start to finish
Designed, made and carefully finished by Kuppi in Melbourne.
Our story
Kuppi and Bear – Our Journey So Far
Hello! We’re Kuppi and Bear – a small handmade accessories brand based in Melbourne, Australia. We’d love to share our story, from the very beginning to where we are now.
2013 – From Painted Wooden Beads
Our journey began in 2013 when Kula, who was studying 3D game graphic design at Monash University and RMIT, wanted to start creating something by hand. She began painting wooden beads with acrylic paint, assembling each one into colorful accessories.
She sold them at local craft markets and at Design A Space – a well-known handmade design store in South Yarra, a stylish shopping area just outside Melbourne’s city centre (CBD).
2017 – Discovering Polymer Clay
After a short break, we returned in 2017 with a new material – polymer clay. It allowed us to freely shape, mix, and create in vibrant colors and forms. This was when our style began to shift and grow into something more playful and artistic.
2018 – Enter Laser Cutting
One year later, we discovered laser cutting through Kula’s partner, who worked in a laser-cutting company. We started designing intricate digital shapes and cutting them from wood and acrylic – then hand-painted and assembled each piece ourselves.
This combination of digital precision and handmade warmth became a signature of our brand.
Adding Resin – Handmade From Mold to Finish
Later, we started creating resin accessories too. Every mold is handmade by us from scratch, allowing us to experiment with textures, colors, glitter, and transparency.
We returned to physical retail with shops like Design A Space and in.cu8er on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy – a creative hub in inner-north Melbourne. We also sold at Sunday craft markets across the city.
2020 – The Pause
Just as things were growing, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Markets and shops closed, and we paused operations again for a while.
Restarting from a Local Café
After restrictions eased, we restarted selling at Zetta’s Pantry – a local café in Brunswick. It was a small but warm way to reconnect with our community.
When the café later closed, we shifted focus to our online store. Now we offer over 65 styles of earrings, shipping Australia-wide and beyond.
Looking Ahead – 2025 and Beyond
In 2025, we’re planning to return to craft markets again. We miss the joy of meeting customers in person, and letting people discover our designs up close.
We hope you’ll visit us – online or in person – and find a piece that feels like it was made just for you.
📸 Follow us on Instagram: @kuppiandbear
An independent maker in Melbourne
Made by Kuppi.
Made to bring joy.
Kuppi & Bear is a small-batch Melbourne studio where playful ideas become lightweight earrings and other joyful handmade pieces.
Small batches, original ideas
Thoughtful pieces with character—not mass-produced accessories.
Your support keeps creativity growing
Every order helps an independent maker keep designing and creating.
The story so far
A small idea that kept growing.
The materials and tools have changed over the years, but the reason for making has stayed the same: to turn imagination into wearable pieces that make everyday life feel more joyful.
2013 · The beginning
It started with a paintbrush.
While studying 3D game graphic design in Melbourne, I wanted to make something I could hold in my hands. I began painting wooden beads, turning each one into a colourful little accessory.
Those first pieces found homes at local craft markets and Design A Space in South Yarra.
2017 · New possibilities
Colour found a new shape.
After a short break, polymer clay brought me back to making. Its freedom of shape and colour helped the Kuppi & Bear style become bolder, more playful and more expressive.
2018 · Acrylic arrives
Digital precision, finished by hand.
Discovering laser cutting opened another creative door. I could draw intricate forms digitally, cut them from wood or acrylic, then hand-paint and assemble every piece in the studio.
Then came resin
From handmade mould to final sparkle.
Resin made room for texture, glitter, colour and transparency. Even the moulds were made from scratch, so the finished pieces could feel unmistakably Kuppi & Bear.
A pause, then a return
Community brought the studio back.
The pandemic closed markets and shops, and making paused for a while. Later, a small display at Zetta's Pantry in Brunswick became a warm way to reconnect with local customers and begin again.
2026 · A new chapter
A local home—and new things to make.
From August 2026, Kuppi & Bear will have a space at Market Fair in Ferntree Gully—a retail community bringing together more than 300 makers, local brands and vintage dealers.
The studio is also beginning to create beyond earrings, carrying the same playful design language into a wider range of handmade pieces.
From August 2026 · Shop 2, 794 Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully
Visit Market FairWhy handmade matters
Every order supports more than a product.
It gives an independent maker the time and freedom to keep exploring unusual ideas, developing original designs and making in thoughtful quantities. That support keeps small creative businesses visible, human and full of personality.
- Original designs instead of mass production
- Small batches with less unnecessary waste
- A Melbourne maker doing work she loves
Thank you for being part of the story
Find the pair that feels like you.
Colourful, lightweight and made with care—ready to bring a little more joy to your everyday.