Pure gold Jewish pride

Rivi and Ricky New, Melbourne-based sisters-in-law are the kind of women who turn heads without trying — they are effortlessly stylish, with impeccable taste. Ricky’s award-winning career with major Australian studios and brands has made her a force in design, while Rivi’s background as an aesthetician has honed her impeccable eye for detail. Together, they exude a rare blend of creativity and sophistication.

So, when these sisters-in-law teamed up to launch RREN — a jewellery brand specialising in timeless diamond and gold pieces — it felt like a natural extension of their shared passion for fashion and beauty. (Pronounced wren, RREN cleverly combines their initials, R and N, into a sleek name.)

Their business was due to launch at the end of October 2023 and the pair had spent months designing bespoke pieces including solitaire necklaces, tennis bracelets and diamond rings as well as beautiful classic gold chains.

With their gold and diamond jewellery crafted, their designs photographed and uploaded on a ready-to-launch website, everything seemed ready to fall into place — until October 7 changed everything.

“We were meant to launch around at the end of October 2023. And then October 7 happened…we were too consumed by grief and heartbreak. It didn’t feel important. It didn’t feel like something that we could put our energy into,” says Ricky.

The two of them put their launch on hold, horrified by the emerging images of carnage from Israel, and decided that they would use their considerable artistic and design talents to good use. The sisters-in-law went back to the drawing room, trying to decide what they could do, as artists and creatives, to both help the victims of October 7 in a practical way and showcase Jewish pride.