About
មាលា mealea /mielie/
n. lei, wreath, garland, braid made of flowers
n. row, line, series, succession, set
n. hat (usage: royal) ETY: Sanskrit, Pali mālā (source)
The Story
I started coming across several clay and acrylic earring makers on social media. I wondered about how these earrings would look like if they were Khmer-inspired. I began looking into acrylic material, laser cutting, and jewelry making. I started off with a handful of sketches and debuted with three designs representing common imagery found in Khmer culture. This was the start of មាលា Mealea Collection.
Mealea Collection is Khmer and Southeast Asian imagination turned tangible (jewelry, artworks, literature, and merch). It's my commitment to cultural preservation in my own way and honoring my lived experiences as a 2nd generation indigenous Khmer/Krom American. At its core, it's a honest celebration of Khmer/SE Asian culture and heritage.
I also sell some of my designs on Bonfire as tie dye/color blast t-shirts (youth sizes included). Be sure to also sign up for my monthly newsletter (named Mangosteen after one of my fave Southeast Asian fruits) to receive special offers, sneak peaks, and upates!
I hope you love my creations just as much as I enjoy creating them! ♡
Meet the Maker
I'm Krystal M. Chuon, a proud second-generation indigenous Khmer/Krom American artist and writer. My passion for art and literature blossomed during my upbringing in San Francisco, California. Additionally, I dedicated a considerable amount of time volunteering at cultural and community events focused on Khmer/Southeast Asian heritage in the Bay Area which has helped inform my work. In my free time, you can find me reading, playing cozy video games, watching movies/shows, traveling, and dreaming up new designs.