Made in Fulham
It never fails to surprise us what a talented bunch you Fulham folks are. Each month Urban Village Ldn introduces you to THe Fulham face behind an idea, product or business and asks them what they love about being a local resident. This month we talk to Stefania Indelicato, Director of Ambersouk Jewellery
How long have you called Fulham home?
Fulham has been my home since summer of 2000. Begrudgingly moving to a new area, from only neighbouring South Kensington, I never thought I would ever get used to it… let alone fall in love with it and make it my family home.
Tell us a bit about yourself/and your family.
I am a bit of a nomad at heart! I am three quarters Italian and one quarter Eritrean, born in Eritrea and brought up in Sudan with many nuances of a third culture kid. I came to London in 1987 to attend university and never left. Fell in love with a boy from Philly and three girls later, London has now become home. But Africa still very much holds a big part of my heart. I miss the magic and warmth of its people
What’s your favourite local haunt and why?
I love Lillie Road, a long stretch of road filled with gorgeous antique shops and iconic George! Everyone knows George, a wonderful antique dealer and long standing friend who always inspires me with stories form his modelling days and the love for perspex furniture, a passion we both share. I also love the local charity shops, I always manage to find some treasure or other.
What is your slice of Fulham heaven and why?
Apart from the gardens of Fulham Palace where my favourite ancient oak tree resides, North End Road is also my slice of Fulham heaven. It is where I get to feel a bit of home! It's where I can buy special foods that I can’t otherwise find, it’s where I can get to chat in Arabic with the shopkeepers and if I am lucky, it's where I can sometimes hear Umm Kulthum playing in the background (one of the greatest female Arab singers) … all food for my soul.
What have you missed about Fulham life during the pandemic?
Having a morning coffee with my friend at Local Hero, it was our daily routine since the longest time and just missed seeing people. Human connections are everything. Missed seeing all the local traders, the buzzy team at Seed, lovely Omar from Quirky Gadgets, the Health Food shop … Fulham just felt deserted, quite surreal!
What local shop/service/business has helped make life easier during the pandemic?
The shops on North End Road were brilliant, they had all the essentials that were missing from the supermarkets. Eggs, pasta, flour and toilet paper aplenty!
If you could do one thing to improve Fulham what would it be? .
Remove parking zones.
Tell us about Ambersouk and how it came to be.
Ambersouk Jewellery was born out of a love affair with jewellery that began a long time ago. Since I can recall as a young girl, I would spend many a Friday with my mama venturing to Omdurman souk (market) in Sudan in search of treasures and unique objects that belonged to the past. Intrigued by their stories and captivated by the thrill of discovering new pieces that could then be given a new breath of life, the passion to create jewellery with a story began. I now create recharmed and fine jewellery inspired by the magic and mysticm of the souk. Through the jewellery I create, I try to share some of that magic and keep special memories and stories alive. I also love to transform and reimagine old heirloom pieces into new contemporary designs and allow their story to continue.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of starting their own enterprise?
Be passionate about what you want to do. Speak to whoever you can in that field and learn about every aspect of your enterprise. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Remember that everything is possible if you put your heart and mind to it. Be prepared to work hard, but if you are passionate then it is not really hard work :)
What top tip do you always give about accessorizing/choosing a piece of jewellery?
Don’t be afraid to experiment. Mix metals, yellow gold with sliver or rose gold with black gold, pair chunky with finer jewellery. Play with layering necklaces and rings so you can enjoy wearing more than a piece at a time. Don’t be afraid to be bold. And more importantly don’t wait for that special occasion to wear an important piece of jewellery, enjoy it as much as you can.
