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.

That moment arrived during a trip to Guangzhou, a
manufacturing hub in China. While walking through aisles of jewellery,
something clicked. She returned to London 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 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.