South African jewellery brand Pichulik celebrates its 10th year anniversary with a capsule of its five most recognised designs reimagined in sterling silver and a collaborative women-centered story. ‘Tidal Pools’ lensed by Alice Mann and Brais Vilasó, debuted here on Nataal, speaks to the shared experience of women reengaging with nature in Cape Town’s tidal pools, and pays homage to the joy that it elicits.

“Since the pandemic, many people in the city have taken up cold water swimming. These man-made spaces reveal a unique intersection between humanity and nature, and it has been beautiful to witness the strong sense of community that has developed here,” say Mann of the shoot’s inspiration, which sees five soulmates basking in the daily ritual of entering calm seas.

In evidence in the shoot and woven through the brand’s aesthetic history is the use of rope, which continues in Pichulik’s SS23 Algiers collection. A tribute to founder Katherine-Mary Pichulik’s paternal Algerian heritage, it’s rich in soft terracotta hues and warm burnished gold tones. “I remember my grandmere’s home from when I was little – the smells and sounds are still so prominent in my memory,” she reveals. “I went to my aunts, uncles and cousins and asked them to gather heirlooms and objects which I used as departure points – almost forensically. It was nice to trace my history and to use it as a wider allegory for finding myself by looking at the past to see a new way forward. It’s a love letter to my ancestry and also a way of putting my father to rest.”

The brand’s aesthetic is as strong today as when it launched in 2013 – think sculptural forms crafted from rope, brass and semi-precious stones. That strength, the visionary founder stresses, is a result of being able to refine Pichulik’s vision over the past decade thanks to their talented team and legion of loyal fans. “Our commitment and connection to Africa is what makes us because we’re rooted here – we are a pan-African team based in Cape Town. It’s about community, not only the women who make the pieces but also the women who wear them, as well as few men and some who identify as neither. And the last element is about artisanal craft and sustainable practices. All along our process we’re questioning how we make it, where we source it, how we can do it better.”

While their team spans the continent, it’s Cape Town that unites them. “We have members from Zimbabwe and Cape Malay, we have Xhosa and Afrikaans women, as well as my hodgepodge. I’m inspired by the multicultural connections that women in Africa have as we work and create together. Plus, the incredible light and colour we have here and the sculptural shapes of the flowers, is all just incredibly vibrant. But really, it’s our community and the way that we all coexist together.”