By Aisha Hassan on 13 February 2026
Shang Vito doesn’t approach beads as ornament but as material with possibility. When we first saw the pieces layered against metal, it was the contrast and geometric shapes that held our attention: glass beads sitting confidently beside gold-plated steel and color meeting polish with ease.
Founded by Puneeta Mhajan, the Singapore-based brand draws from her Kenyan upbringing, where beads are deeply embedded in visual culture. Puneeta reimagines them through proportion, color, and stacking. Handmade by women artisans in Turkey and designed to be worn daily, Shang Vito offers jewelry that feels quietly different.
In her own words below, Puneeta shares more about the Shang Vito journey.
How did Shang Vito begin, and what is the story of its name?
Shang Vito began with a very clear intention — I didn’t just want to make beaded jewellery, I wanted to reimagine what beaded jewellery could look and feel like.
I grew up in Kenya, surrounded by beads, so they’ve always felt familiar and meaningful to me. But when I started designing, I realised that most beaded jewellery in the market either felt very traditional or very beachy. I wanted to create something different — pieces that felt modern, refined, and easy to style with metal jewellery.
The name “Shang Vito” comes from Swahili, where “Shanga” means beads and “Vito” means jewellery. For me, it represents the idea of transforming beads into something more elevated — jewellery that feels unique not just on its own, but especially when stacked with metal pieces.
What did you want Shang Vito to offer that you weren’t seeing elsewhere?
I felt there was a gap in the way beaded jewellery was being designed and styled.
Most brands treated beads as either statement pieces or holiday accessories. There wasn’t much exploration of how beads could coexist with metal — how the two could be layered, balanced, and styled together to create something truly unique.
The goal was to create jewellery that feels distinctive — not just because of the beads, but because of the way they are designed to be stacked and worn.
What draws you to beads as a medium for jewelry?
Beads have a character that metal alone can’t replicate. They carry colour, warmth, and texture, but also endless possibilities.
What excites me most is how differently beads can be used. By playing with shapes, colours, and proportions — and by pairing them with metal — I can create pieces that feel unexpected. That sense of experimentation is what allows Shang Vito designs to stand out and feel unique.
Can you walk us through how a beaded piece comes together?
Every piece starts with a concept, but also with a question: how can this design feel different? We usually develop multiple versions of the same piece, adjusting details that might seem small but completely change the overall feel.
I’m always thinking about how the piece will look on its own, but also how it will stack with other jewellery. When a design finally feels distinctive, balanced, and versatile, that’s when we move it into production
How do you decide on color combinations and proportions in your designs?
I usually start with a place, a memory, or a mood — there’s almost always one main colour that anchors the design.
Once I have that core colour, I look at what other shades can naturally complement it. I don’t just pick colours that look nice on their own; I think about how they will sit next to each other, and how they will feel when worn together.
And then there’s stacking. I design colours not just to stand alone, but to layer. I think about how a new piece will stack with our existing beaded bracelets and metal pieces — whether it adds contrast or balance. Sometimes I’ll adjust proportions or tones purely based on how well it stacks.
So the final colour combination is never accidental. It’s a balance between inspiration, harmony, and how the piece will live alongside everything else in the collection.
Your beaded jewelry is handmade in Turkey. How did that come about?
When I started Shang Vito, I knew that if I wanted the designs to feel unique, the craftsmanship had to support that vision.
I connected with women artisans in Turkey who specialise in hand-assembling beaded jewellery. Together, we experimented with techniques that would allow more intricate, refined designs — especially pieces that could integrate beads and metal seamlessly.
That collaboration is a big part of what makes Shang Vito jewellery feel different from mass-produced beaded pieces.
How do you personally wear or style your beaded pieces?
For me, stacking is where the uniqueness really comes alive.
I rarely wear beaded pieces on their own. I mix them with metal bracelets, tennis bracelets, and different textures to create unique combinations.
Some days I go bold, some days minimal, but I always think of jewellery as layers rather than single pieces. That is at the core of how Shang Vito is designed.
What have you learned about jewelry—or about people—since starting Shang Vito?
I’ve learned that people are drawn to jewellery that feels personal and unique.
They don’t just want something pretty — they want something that reflects their individuality. That’s why stacking resonates so much. It allows people to create something unique from the same pieces.
When someone encounters Shang Vito for the first time, what do you hope they notice or feel?
I hope they feel that Shang Vito is doing something different.
Not just another beaded brand, but a brand that redefines how beads can be worn — especially alongside metal jewellery. Ideally, they feel inspired to experiment, stack, and create their own combinations.
If they walk away feeling, “I haven’t seen beaded jewellery styled like this before,” then I know we’ve done something right.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
