How Jewelry Designer Emma Pillemer Explores Her Personal Style to Bring Emma Pills to Life
Known for its colorful and Insta-worthy jewelry and accessories, Emma Pills is one of the buzziest brands of the moment, and it's all the brainchild of 21-year-old Australian designer Emma Pillemer.
When her big travel plans for 2020 were paused due to the pandemic, Emma decided to refocus her energy elsewhere. She started creating the jewelry pieces she simply wasn't finding anywhere else, designing items for everyday wear, big party vibes and everything in between, and manifesting her dream brand in the process. Her jewelry has a focus on sustainability and is known for being playful yet edgy, including pill-shaped pieces in reference to her name, and packaging inspired by her mom's habit of stowing jewelry in pill bottles during travel. We loved Emma's story from the start, and had the pleasure of learning all about the brand and her personal style in the interview below.
(Photo credit: Jack Owen Bennett)
Name: Emma Pillemer
IG handles: @emmapill, @emmapills
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
1. Emma grew up with her mom watching TV shows about fashion and design, like The Rachel Zoe Project.
"I couldn't get over how many accessories she had. I remember driving my mother mad because I was always cutting clothes up or taking her jewelry to recreate styles. I was really just discovering my own style."
-Emma Pillemer
2. Her personal style has changed quite a lot over the years.
"I've had an evolution of what I like or even how I follow current fashion trends and make them my own."
-Emma Pillemer
3. She's willing to take risks when it comes to style.
"I love getting a reaction. I am forever a fan of Kate Moss. She is definitely my all-time style icon."
-Emma Pillemer
4. Her go-to outfit when she's in a rush is her Agolde jeans, a tank top and cool sneakers (either Salomons or Nikes), plus stacks of her own Emma Pills jewelry.
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5. Emma Pills was born out of the frustration of being unable to find the essential pieces Emma was looking for.
"I created fun, bright, wearable day-to-night designs. The idea was to use enamel and crystals through the collection and create pieces that could be worn at the same time or individually.
Part of me has also always been very conscious of where I wanted Emma Pills to sit in the marketplace. I wanted good quality jewelry to be accessible without emptying pockets, and without being gender specific!"
-Emma Pillemer
6. Emma has really seen the brand grow and evolve alongside her as a human being.
"As I grow, change styles and set trends, the brand does, too. Our focus has definitely shifted as well. Now it's not just design-driven, but we're also very conscious of the types of materials we work with and how. From working with recycled materials to experimenting with new finishes, we definitely have grown and changed the ethos of the brand since I started it.
It's been a crazy ride watching Emma Pills grow and seeing how people, of all ages, love the brand. I'm also obsessed with the amazing people I've met along the way, particularly the amazing stylists who have supported me from the beginning."
-Emma Pillemer
7. She can't get enough of the joy that her pieces bring to people.
"I just love seeing people in Emma Pills. I still get emotional seeing people wear my jewelry."
-Emma Pillemer
8. She loves dancing and used to be a competitive dancer.
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9. The best piece of advice she ever got came from her mother.
"My mom always said, 'If not now, when?' whenever I would want to wait on a task or job. When I was thinking of launching Emma Pills, I think I was brave enough because, 'If not now, when?' was part of me."
-Emma Pillemer
10. Her favorite piece in her closet is the pair of vintage Louis Vuitton jeans she's had for years.
11. Her food of choice is any type of fruit.
12. She's never really followed the trends, but she's always believed that more is more.
"I mix and match trends and styles. I am loving cargo pants right now but will definitely add some platforms at all times."
-Emma Pillemer
13. She has so many faves on TikTok, but she especially loves watching @kensnation for makeup inspo.
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14. Her first-ever design, The OG earrings, are her everyday go-to's.
"The OGs' are truly the perfect earrings for any occasion. I've also obviously been loving everything in my new Daisy collection, but my personal favorite at the moment would be the Lucien styles. I'm obsessed with every piece."
-Emma Pillemer
15. Her sister, Ash, is the graphic designer for Emma Pills.
"I couldn't do it without her."
-Emma Pillemer
16. What's one thing that Emma wants everyone to know about her?
"I am actually really funny…"
-Emma Pillemer
Love discovering the stories behind your favorite brands? Click HERE to read our interview with Booty by Brabants founder Kelly Brabants.