Sisters Julie and Kelly Tran with their range of jewellery and candles for label Aacute. 86959 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By CHARLENE MACAULAY
THESE two sisters are taking creativity to the next level.
Yarraville duo Julie and Kelly Tran have turned their love of jewellery and candle making into a profitable business, Aacute.
What’s more, they’ve done it in only three months.
“We have a lot of fun,” Julie said.
“We didn’t expect it to have so much attention – but now it is a full-time job.”
Julie, 24, who started off her creative life as an illustrator, was introduced to jewellery making by a friend.
She quickly found the process fascinating.
“Seeing all of the different materials you could use and the architecture of it all… I enjoy creating pieces with leather and polymer clay, which I have started to specialise in,” she said.
“Recently I have been experimenting with gold flecks and working them into my necklace and ring ranges, which have been really well received.”
Julie’s range has been so sought after that she has deferred her nutrition course to concentrate on the business.
Kelly, meanwhile, continues to take on her accounting degree while creating her own line of soy wood wick candles.
Kelly, 23, has created more than 56 unique candle scents, including sweet pea and vanilla, crème caramel, lychee and black tea and popcorn.
The pair started out hitting markets around Melbourne, such as the Maribyrnong Makers Market and North Melbourne Market, and now also sell their wares through online shop Etsy.
The Trans are also meeting with boutique retailers to get their lines in store.
Julie told Star her dream was for the pair to one day open their own store.
