KELLY‘S SCOPE
PHOTOGRAPHY WORK
CREATIVE DIRECTION
(FASHION INTERVIEW & PUBLICATION WITH A SINGAPORE JEWELLRY DESIGNER)
WHIMISCAL IN MIAOLAND IS A FASHION INTERVIEW WITH A JEWELRY DESIGNER ESTABLISHED WITH THE NAME MIAO. THIS PUBLICATION FOCUSES ON THE WHIMISCAL ESSENCE SHOWCASED AND BRINGING AUDIENCE TO ENTER A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF CREATIONS.
© Kelly Hadisusanto photography
The project explores Miao’s visualisation of her jewelries & mind entering the world of her jewelries.
Creative Direction Kelly Hadisusanto
Editorial Writer Claudia / Ang Le Yi
Stylist Khin Myanmmar La Min Shin
Editor Jasper Lee Wee Jun
Photographer Kelly Hadisusanto
Make Up Khin Myanmmar La Min Shin
Featuring MIAO
Miao, the owner and head sorcerer at Miao Atelier, is a Singaporean Thai artist who creates jewellery meant to be tiny, wearable pieces of imagination that spark joy and nostalgia, acting as little stepping stones into a more playful world.
LEYI — What is your earliest memory of being inspired to create?
MIAO — I’ve always been drawn to creating—one of my earliest memories is cutting up scrap paper and fabric, turning them into tiny costumes for my toys. There was something magical about transforming the ordinary into something entirely new, something that carried a bit of me in it.
That instinct never really left.
LEYI – Your designs strongly embraced maximalism and playfulness. Would you say this is an act of defiance against the challenges you faced?
MIAO – Miao Atelier is an extension of that childlike curiosity. My work embraces maximalism, not as an act of defiance, but as a way of celebrating the abundance of imagination, of individuality, of the joy found in the unexpected. I love the idea that jewelry and fashion aren’t just about adornment; they’re about self-expression, about giving form to emotions and stories.
My designs reflect my journey of embracing the peculiar and the whimsical, finding beauty in things that might seem unconventional.
LEYI – How do you see sustainability and maximalism coexist in the realm of fashion?
MIAO – Sustainability and maximalism might seem at odds, but to me, they go hand in hand. I believe in creating pieces that people will cherish, that feel like tiny treasures rather than disposable trends.
Many of my materials are repurposed, and each designis made in small batches, ensuring that nothing feels mass-produced. Thoughtful craftsmanship and slow creation are at the heart of what I do.
LEYI – Who would you say your pieces are made for? Who do you want to reach with your art? How would your art tell your story?
MIAO – My pieces are for those who see fashion as a playground—a space to explore, to experiment, to be a little mischievous. Whether they’re someone who loves standing out or someone discovering their voice through what they wear, I want my work to feel like an invitation to play. Ultimately, I hope my art reaches those who find joy in the unconventional, who resonate with the idea that fashion can be both personal and theatrical.
I want Miao Atelier to be a space where people feel seen, where they can embrace their quirks without hesitation. Every piece I create tells a story of transformation, of nostalgia, of embracing one’s oddities. In many ways, my art is a reflection of my journey: from tinkering with scraps as a child to building a world where the whimsical feels just as valuable as the refined.
LEYI - Based on your fashion creations, how do they tell the story of who you are as an artist?
Who are you, MIAO?
MIAO - Miao Atelier is an extension of my brain’s most peculiar corners—where fantasy meets reality, where the impractical finds a way to exist. My pieces tell a story of playful defiance, rejecting perfection in favor of oddities and the unconventional. I am Miao, the head sorcerer behind it all, conjuring wearable magic for those who find beauty in the strange.
LEYI - How would you describe your personal style?
MIAO - My style is a strange concoction of structured silhouettes and organic chaos. I gravitate towards clean, architectural pieces, but I also love absurd little details — things that make you pause and think, “Why does this exist?” Like a shirt that drapes just a little too long or jewelry that looks alive.
LEYI - Your shift towards the jewellry scene is highly motivated by the dark waste growing from the fashion industry. Would you ever consider going back to find a way to make fabric fashion more sustainable, or would you stay in the lane of jewellry and explore pre-existing adventures of “thrifted clothes” and thrift flips?
MIAO - Jewellery allows me to create with minimal waste, but I do still love working with fabric. If I were to return, it wouldn’t be in the traditional fashion cycle — I’d rather explore ways to repurpose existing materials, whether through unconventional fabric manipulations or integrating found objects into accessories. Imagine a textile Frankenstein of forgotten fabrics, revived into something new.
LEYI - On your Instagram profile, you refer to yourself as “head sorcerer for Miao Atelier” and say that your pieces have mystical names like “enchanted orb” or “celestial pendant”. Would you say that the medieval era inspires you quite a bit? If yes, how does it interest you and if no, please elaborate further on the main inspiration and resources behind this grand concept.
MIAO - I wouldn’t say the medieval era strictly inspires me, but I love the sense of mysticism and storytelling from that time—enchanted artifacts, protective talismans, relics of power. My inspiration, however, is more of a cross-dimensional chaos—part sci-fi, part fantasy, part dream logic. I pull from myths, folklore, celestial bodies, and the oddities of the natural world.
LEYI - What are your thoughts on the current medieval revival this season?
MIAO - I love how fashion keeps looping back to armour-like structures, dramatic sleeves, and gothic silhouettes. The modern take on medieval influences feels almost like a reclamation of power—clothing that protects, adorns, and tells stories all at once.
LEYI - If your “creatures” one day came to life, which would you think would cause the most havoc? And which would you route for to win in a fight against the others?
MIAO - Oh, Cleo would absolutely be the instigator of chaos—this mischievous cat-rabbit-clown hybrid would lead a revolution of stitched-up oddballs. But in a full-blown battle? I’d root for the smallest, scrappiest one. The underdog always has the most tricks up their sleeve.
LEYI - On your website’s “about” page, you described your creative process as chaotic. Would you please describe it to us?
MIAO - It’s like trying to catch fireflies in a storm. Ideas come in bursts, erratic and unfiltered. I sketch, I prototype, I abandon ideas, I resurrect them months later. I hoard materials just in case they “speak” to me someday. Sometimes I know exactly what I want to make, and other times, I just let my hands figure it out. It’s unpredictable, but that’s the magic of it.
MIAO - It’s like trying to catch fireflies in a storm. Ideas come in bursts, erratic and unfiltered. I sketch, I prototype, I abandon ideas, I resurrect them months later. I hoard materials just in case they “speak” to me someday. Sometimes I know exactly what I want to make, and other times, I just let my hands figure it out. It’s unpredictable, but that’s the magic of it.
LEYI - You’ve just started a new series called “MIAO’S MAYHEM“, where you showcase the ins and outs of being a small business owner. What has become your main goal when curating the idea behind this content?
MIAO - To capture the absurdity of it all. Being a small business owner isn’t just about making cool things. It’s navigating logistics, tech breakdowns, last-minute fixes, and existential dread. I want “Miao’s Mayhem” to feel like a peek behind the curtain, where people see the real, unfiltered chaos (and occasional victories) of building something like this from the ground up.
LEYI - What are you working on right now?
MIAO - A mix of things! I’m developing my “Creatures” plushies, experimenting with sculptural jewelry, and brainstorming new ways to bring Miao Atelier’s world to life—perhaps through small trinkets or charms that feel like pocket- sized spells.
MIAO - A mix of things! I’m developing my “Creatures” plushies, experimenting with sculptural jewelry, and brainstorming new ways to bring Miao Atelier’s world to life—perhaps through small trinkets or charms that feel like pocket- sized spells.
LEYI - If you had to choose one song or album to describe your pieces, what would it be?
MIAO - “Parfum d’étoiles" by Ichiko Aoba is a perfect reflection of the quiet magic I try to weave into my designs. It’s gentle yet deeply immersive, like a lullaby for forgotten constellations. My pieces often feel like artifacts from a dreamscape, and this song captures that essence beautifully. I would say my pieces lie somewhere between dreamlike wonder, eerie nostalgia, and celestial softness.
LEYI - How does your artistic practice navigate the intersection of celestial and human experiences, and what does this reveal about the complexities of morality, existence, and identity?
MIAO - My work exists in the liminal space between the ordinary and the mystical. The celestial themes in my designs reflect a fascination with the unknown—how we seek meaning in the stars, in symbols, in forces beyond our comprehension. I think there’s something deeply human about wanting to adorn ourselves with pieces that feel like talismans, as if they hold a fragment of some greater truth. It’s a dance between fantasy and reality, between who we are and who we want to become.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED KELLY HADISUSANTO 2026