The Outcast As Superstar

Some brands arrive with noise. Others arrive with quiet intent. By Pariah is the latter—the kind of jewellery label that doesn’t need to shout to be heard. Founded by Sophie Howard whilst working in fashion pr in 2016, By Pariah has formed into a shorthand for a very modern kind of luxury: thoughtful, pared-back, and very, very wearable.

The origin story is almost poetic. Sophie came across an article about the Pariah stone, a semi-precious gem dismissed for its flaws. Where others saw imperfection, she saw beauty. That idea—celebrating all that is overlooked—sparked the creation of By Pariah. A native German speaker, the double entendre of the word 'pariah' was in fact embraced - that old adage of zig when everyone else is zagging came to life. No outcast here! Her jewellery was always designed not necessarily for the spotlight, but for the woman who already owns her space.

By Pariah pieces carry weight, understated texture, and a sense of ease. Think organic shapes, with no two stones ever the same - yet clearly defined and with an edge. Silhouettes are drawn from nature, and stones set with quiet confidence and a whole lot of handiwork. Now crafted in 14k recycled gold with responsibly sourced materials, Sophie speaks of the gemstones with quiet reverence, using moss agate that glints transparent when you hold it to the light, or agate that turns white or grey depending on the cut of the rock

What will surely become a new icon for the brand is their stackable set of three perfectly rounded rings. Whether different stones - from jade, to Botswana agate to onyx, you can mix and match your own stack, and they are substantial, almost moorish in the way they make you constantly run fingers over them to smooth, turn or fiddle with. Buy the stack trio as curated on the brand's website, or create your own by buying individual rings all designed to slot into each other.

Having learnt the "business of jewellery" from scratch, it's a testament to Sophie's vision that By Pariah now sits in some of the best boutiques worldwide (see Liberty and Net-A-Porter). But it's unsurprising, given Sophie's designed By Pariah pieces so they'll never expire with the season; they’re designed to live with you. Hoops that never leave your ears. A ring that slips on like second nature. Jewellery that feels like part of the body rather than decoration on top of it. 

By Pariah isn’t chasing the spectacular. It’s building a new language of luxury: calm, intelligent, and enduringly elegant. Jewellery not demanding attention—but earning it.