Some of the pieces in Kult Archive are not ordered from anyone. I make them myself, by hand, here in Norway. Chainmaille (chainmail, or ringbrynje in Norwegian) is the oldest kind of metal armour there is, and I love turning it into something you can wear to a concert, a wedding or just a grey Tuesday.
I started making chainmaille about two months ago, simply out of curiosity, and fell for it straight away. Every piece is stainless steel, put together by hand, ring by ring. Stainless steel doesn't rust, so it handles everyday wear, whether that's rain, sweat or a long night out.
What is chainmaille?
Chainmaille is a fabric made of small metal rings linked together, one through the next, in a pattern. Historically it was armour: flexible, strong and heavy. As jewellery it keeps the best parts of that history. It moves with you, it catches the light, and it has a slightly dangerous elegance that a regular chain never quite has.
There are many weaves, from simple chains to dense, almost fabric-like sheets. Different weaves give different looks, from delicate and lacy to heavy and armour-like.
Made by hand, ring by ring
Every piece starts as loose rings. I open and close each one by hand with pliers and work them into the pattern piece by piece. It is slow, quiet work, and I like it that way. It is the opposite of fast fashion.
My pieces are made in stainless steel. The larger pieces, like The Prologue, combine handwoven chainmaille with cascading chains, pearl details and pointed pendants. They are made to order: you enter your head or neck circumference in centimetres when you order, and I make the piece to that measurement. That means every Prologue is made for exactly one person.
A piece like The Prologue takes six hours or more to make, ring by ring.
The collection
Headpieces. The Widow’s Veil drapes over the forehead and eyes in stainless steel ringwork with dangling metal spikes. It is made for Halloween, photo shoots, festivals or simply making an entrance.
Earrings. Reliquary, So Metal and Thorn Relic combine stainless steel chainmaille with chains, hoops or dark metallic spikes. They are the easiest way to wear chainmaille every day.
Hair clips. Spiked, Knot Today, Doll Parts and Chain Reaction are polished silver-tone clips with chainmaille knots, chains and charms. Wear them as a pair, or just one for a little chaos.
Small variations are part of it
Because everything is made by hand, no two pieces are exactly alike. Small differences are not mistakes. They are the proof that a person made it. Handmade earrings and hair clips need 2–3 business days before they ship, and made-to-order pieces need a little longer.
How to wear it
- Pair a headpiece with a simple black top so the metal stands out.
- Mix silver chainmaille with velvet, lace or leather. The contrast is the point.
- Start with earrings or hair clips if you are new to chainmaille.
See everything in Made To Order Chainmail. Questions about sizing or a custom piece? Send me an email at hello@kultarchive.no or a DM on Instagram @kult_archive.
Andrea, Kult Archive