Vanchi was founded in 2023 by Yaqi Xu, who also goes by “Chi” or “Chichi,” with her husband, Rajan Kandola, joining shortly after to help grow the vision he, too, became captivated by. What began as a solo venture quickly evolved into a partnership built on trust, creativity, and a shared commitment to crafting jewellery that’s thoughtful in design and effortless to wear—simple enough for every day, but still likely to spark compliments from strangers.

Before launching Vanchi, Yaqi spent years working in the fashion industry across Dallas, New York, and Shanghai. Despite the glossy career highlights, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing (besides sleep). Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, starting her own brand felt less like a bold leap and more like a family tradition—just with fewer spreadsheets and more sparkle.

She began with just 30 carefully selected pieces and set up a stall at Portobello Market. Within weeks, she was selling out—and more importantly, connecting. Customers weren’t just buying jewellery; they were sharing their stories, their styles, and what they wished they could find.

Inspired by these exchanges, Yaqi began designing original pieces that responded to customers’ needs. The “Nora” Double Pendant Necklace was created for a customer who wanted a sleek and sparkly duo. The “Noor” Pavé Triple Band Ring was designed for a longtime visitor from Kuwait who loved stacked rings—but not the hassle of styling them.

As Vanchi grew, so did the workload. Rajan, who had supported the brand from the sidelines, left his full-time job to officially join the business. Today, the two run Vanchi together, handling everything from design to sourcing, customer care to logistics, as a two-person team with a big vision.

Every piece of Vanchi jewellery is handcrafted in small batches. The brand works exclusively with certified factories that meet the highest standards for quality, ethics, and sustainability. Each year, Yaqi travels to Asia to attend jewellery fairs and visit partners from India, Thailand, China, Vietnam in person, ensuring the craftsmanship meets their exacting standards.

At its heart, Vanchi is a brand shaped by conversation. It’s about creating pieces that feel personal and effortless, designed not just to wear, but to mean something.