Meet the Founder: Helge Maren on Creating Jewellery with Meaning, Responsibility, and Soul

Name: Helge Maren Hauptmann

Title/Profession: Creative Director & Founder Maren Jewellery

Based in: Germany

Business: Maren Jewellery | @maren_jewellery

Website: https://marenjewellery.com

In an industry long defined by excess and extraction, Helge Maren represents a quieter, more intentional path forward. As the founder of Maren Jewellery, she is part of a new generation of designers redefining what luxury means - not through opulence alone, but through responsibility, mindfulness, and emotional permanence. Working exclusively with recycled gold, lab-grown diamonds, and local craftsmanship, Helge has built a brand rooted in the belief that beauty should honour both people and planet. Her journey into jewellery was never simply about aesthetics - it was about creating objects that carry memory, meaning, and integrity. In this conversation, she reflects on creativity, sustainability, and the deeper purpose behind slow, conscious creation.

Helge, before we talk about your work, how would you describe yourself at this point in your life?

I would describe myself as someone who is deeply aligned with her values and fully immersed in the pursuit of meaningful creativity. At this point in my life, I feel grateful for the freedom to create work that not only reflects my aesthetic vision but also contributes positively to the world. I’m curious, reflective, and committed to growing personally, professionally, and sustainably.

Do you remember when jewellery first became meaningful to you - not as an object, but as something emotional or symbolic?

Absolutely. Even as a child, I was fascinated by how a piece of jewellery could carry memory, emotion, or identity. I remember my grandmother’s jewels and how they told stories of love and life. My first practical experience came when I was 16, during a school internship at a goldsmith’s workshop, where I realized how much care, attention, and emotion go into every piece. That experience showed me that jewellery can be a deeply personal and symbolic form of art, and it set me on the path to becoming a designer.

You’ve spent many years inside the jewellery industry. At what point did you realise you wanted to create something that reflected your own values, not just your skills?

After over a decade in the industry, including a role as Head of Design for a renowned brand, I realized that technical skill alone wasn’t enough. I wanted my work to align with my values - sustainability, fairness, and conscious creation. It became clear during my sabbatical traveling through Scandinavia in 2019. I wanted to craft jewellery that embodies mindfulness, responsibility, and timeless beauty. That was the moment Maren Jewellery began to take shape.

Maren Jewellery feels calm and intentional. Was that always your aesthetic language, or did it emerge as you found your voice?

It evolved naturally. I’ve always loved subtle, timeless designs, but working independently allowed me to fully refine my aesthetic language. With Maren Jewellery, I focus on clarity, balance, and emotion, translating experiences, light, and nature into forms. The calmness is intentional - it’s a reflection of the stories I want the pieces to carry and the experience I want for the wearer.

Sustainability is often reduced to buzzwords. On a personal level, what does living sustainably actually look like for you day to day?

For me, sustainability is a constant, intentional practice. It’s visible in my work and personal life through concrete actions: I use 18-karat recycled gold for all jewellery, lab-grown diamonds instead of mined ones, and source local, hand-crafted components to minimize CO₂ from shipping. Even our packaging is 100% recyclable and locally produced.

At home, I practice minimalism, reduce waste, and favor second-hand or ethically sourced materials in daily life. Sustainability isn’t an abstract ideal - it’s about making thoughtful, consistent choices that reflect responsibility for both people and the planet.

Your work suggests a deep respect for time - in materials, craftsmanship, and process. How has working with slow creation changed the way you relate to time in your own life?

Working with slow creation has taught me patience and presence. Each design, each hand-finished piece, takes time, and that has shifted my perspective. I value quality over quantity, depth over speed. It has made me more mindful in my personal life as well - I appreciate moments, relationships, and processes more fully, rather than rushing to the next task.

Jewellery often accompanies people through intimate moments. How do you think about the lives your pieces will go on to live beyond you?

I think of my jewellery pieces as companions for life’s milestones - love, joy, memory, and transformation. I hope they carry stories, evoke emotions, and perhaps even become heirlooms. Knowing that my designs will continue to hold meaning long after they leave my hands inspires me to make each piece timeless, durable, and conscious of the people and the environment they touch.

Founding a brand can be both empowering and isolating. What has this journey taught you about resilience?

It has taught me that resilience is rooted in clarity and values. Building Maren Jewellery has been a mix of exhilarating freedom and tough challenges - finding the right partners, ensuring sustainable materials, and staying true to ethical standards. I’ve learned to trust my vision, persevere through obstacles, and embrace both successes and setbacks as part of a long-term commitment to meaningful creation.

Outside of design, what nourishes you creatively or emotionally?

Nature is a constant source of inspiration and renewal. Quiet moments in the forest, the ocean, or the mountains spark reflection and creativity. Travel, art, and connecting with people who share values of mindfulness and sustainability also feed my soul. And of course, experiences with friends and family, and moments of stillness, help me recharge and return to design with clarity.

Looking ahead, what kind of change do you hope your work contributes to - not just in jewellery, but in how people consume and value objects?

I hope Maren Jewellery encourages a deeper appreciation for the life of an object - its origins, its impact, and its meaning. I want people to value thoughtful, sustainable creation over fast, disposable consumption.

Ultimately, I hope my work inspires a shift in perspective: that luxury can coexist with responsibility, that beauty can be ethical, and that every choice we make as consumers carries weight and opportunity for positive change.

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