From House of Horrors to Hackney Kingston: Jewellery Without Rules

Designers Nick and Daeyna on turning creativity into a form of healing, finding inspiration in the unexpected, and entering a new chapter shaped by London edge and Caribbean spirit.

Some brands begin with a business plan. For Nick and Daeyna, the story started somewhere far more personal.

Before their jewellery became bold, sculptural statements, their earliest pieces were small acts of creativity made from found objects and materials — a way of bringing beauty and a sense of control into a period of life that did not look or feel the way they wanted it to. What began almost as a form of personal therapy gradually grew more ambitious: the pieces became larger, more expressive, and increasingly reflective of the world the two designers wanted to create.

That experimentation eventually became Hackney Horror’s House of Horrors, an unconventional jewellery brand built around individuality rather than trends. Now, the founders are preparing for another transformation. The brand will soon become Hackney Kingston, bringing together Nick’s roots in Hackney, London, and Daeyna’s connection to Kingston, Jamaica.

FashionX spoke with the designers about the beginnings of the brand, their approach to creating beyond trends, the unexpected places where inspiration can appear, and why their next chapter is also their most personal.

Before there was a brand, where did the story begin? What first pushed you to start creating together?

We didn’t start with much. Like most creative ventures, it was born from little else other than frustration and desire. Things weren’t great, life wasn’t as attractive as we wanted it to be, and sometimes taking control starts very small.

Our first pieces were medicinal more than anything — small moments of expression and beauty made from found objects and materials. It was about reclaiming our desires one brooch at a time.

It became more healing than we could have imagined. Soon, tiny changes weren’t enough. The pieces became more extravagant, and eventually we were able to invest the time and money in creating adornments that truly reflected the vision we wanted for both our lives and our jewellery.

That’s where the ethos met the business.

How would you describe the philosophy behind your work today?

Our brand is defined by individuality, self-expression, and the belief that jewellery should be more than an accessory. It should feel like an extension of the person wearing it.

Each piece has its own personality, combining raw, alternative influences with a sense of luxury and artistry.

We don’t believe in following trends or creating pieces that look like everything else. We want to make distinctive, statement-making designs for people who want to express who they are without fitting into a traditional mould.

Your work feels highly individual. Where does the inspiration for a new piece usually begin?

A lot of our inspiration comes from our cultures, lived experiences, personal interests, and, of course, our personalities.

Some designs are carefully planned and brainstormed, but many evolve organically. We might begin with a single thought, feeling, or theme and then start forming and working with the metal, allowing the creative process to guide us.

From there, we see where the artistry takes us and refine the design as it develops into something entirely its own.

What is inspiring you creatively right now?

We go through obsessions with our designs — some brief, some continual. They often relate to our current circumstances and interests.

One theme that continues throughout our work is the combination of the organic and mechanical, both in our materials and our inspiration.

Recently, we’ve become fascinated by jellyfish, squid, and the mysterious world beneath the surface. Jellyfish, in particular, have become a recurring source of inspiration. Their bodies allow us to create solid, symmetrical structures, while their tentacles offer complete freedom.

That contrast allows us to create bold designs that form an almost symbiotic relationship with the wearer — pieces that interact with the body while maintaining a form of their own. It also means the same piece can be worn and interpreted differently by different people.

How does an idea become a finished piece in your studio?

A lot of it is waiting for life to throw inspiration at you. We try not to force the desire to create.

It might be something in a movie we’ve watched, a phrase overheard in public, or a strange formation of clouds. But once an idea hits, we work.

Sometimes we sketch, but more often we simply need to get the materials into our hands. We mould, warp, twist, and rotate them until we can see what they could become.

A lot of the time, it’s more about the “how” than the “why” — more engineering than designing.

You’re still a relatively young brand. What moments have been particularly important in its evolution so far?

Our growth has been nothing short of amazing. Whether it has been a stroke of luck, perfect timing, or simply something that was meant to be, every collaboration and runway opportunity has played a meaningful role in shaping the brand.

Each experience has introduced us to new audiences, opened doors to new creative opportunities, and helped us develop greater confidence in our vision.

We’re incredibly grateful for every milestone so far, and we see them all as stepping stones towards something even bigger.

Fashion is constantly looking for the next trend. How much attention do you pay to what the industry says will be “next”?

We try not to concern ourselves with future trends. We would rather stay present and follow our own sources of inspiration.

We can be inspired by other artists’ visions of the future, but we’re not concerned with living in someone else’s dystopia.

Our pieces are sculptural, wearable works of art designed to transcend trends and remain timeless.

What does the next stage of growth look like for you?

We have ambitious goals for the future. One of our main aspirations is to become a more widely recognised name within fashion and jewellery while staying true to the individuality and craftsmanship that define the brand.

We’re also exploring exciting collaborations and creative partnerships, and we have our sights set on potentially presenting our own runway show in the future.

We want to push the brand into new spaces and create experiences that go beyond the jewellery itself.

That next chapter also includes a new name: Hackney Kingston. Why did this feel like the right moment for that evolution?

The name Hackney Kingston represents the evolution of our brand and, more importantly, the two worlds that shaped us as designers.

London is deeply personal to Nick, who was born and raised in Hackney. Kingston represents Daeyna’s roots, upbringing and lived experience of Jamaica.

Bringing the two names together reflects our shared journey, cultures, experiences, similarities, and creative perspectives. It feels like the perfect representation of who we are as a brand.

London edge meets Caribbean spirit, and two personal histories come together to create something entirely our own.

By Catherine Mills