Lost & found: How a robbery inspired minnen.collection’s upcycled jewellery revolution
From Berlin's underground to vintage jewellery boxes, meet the designer giving forgotten treasures new life...
minnen.collection, created by designer Carolina zu Ortenburg, offers more than just accessories - it reveals the stories and memories of those who came before us.
Already established in jewellery making, zu Ortenburg's creative direction was shaken up after a robbery in her studio. This pivotal moment deepened her connection to both craft and heritage.
Image credit: Carolina zu Ortenburg by Louisa Pattison
"After the robbery, everything shifted," she recalls. "I lost years of collected items, so I put a call out for help. Then packages started arriving—gifts from friends, family, even strangers. Each piece came with personal notes and stories. It was really beautiful."
Image credit: Horse Girl by Szymon Stepniak for GAY Times, styled by Theresa Grs.
The name 'Minnen', Swedish for 'memory', honors Ortenburg's heritage and her grandmother's legacy. Rather than identifying as a designer, zu Ortenburg sees herself as a curator—a subtle but significant distinction. "My work is creating collages," she explains. "I collect forgotten pieces and breathe new life into them, similar to curating an exhibition."
Every minnen.collection piece begins as an upcycled jewel. “I select one or two and begin building new items based on them. This process is highly intuitive, and I strive not to overthink it. The best pieces often arise from moments where I didn’t try too hard. I try to find a flow and go with it.” This approach challenges zu Ortenburg to work with materials others might overlook, transforming each into something that carries both history and emotion.
"When you see what draws people to certain pieces, you get this intimate window into their lives," she reflects. "There's something powerful about how these objects connect with different people."
In Berlin's creative ecosystem, zu Ortenburg's work naturally evolved through the city's collaborative energy. This collective spirit manifests in minnen.collection's partnerships, from initial projects with Rebirth Studios to ongoing work with Horse Girl and Gay Mag.
"Berlin gives you space to exist authentically," she notes. "There's an unspoken respect for individual expression here."
Image credit: @mariekippe by @vitali_gelwich for @pulllettermagazine.uk
The soundtrack to her creative process? "Think Vivienne Westwood's playlist - punk attitude mixed with hip-hop and R&B. It's about capturing that energy." It’s an energy also reflected in her personal style; “Colour is essential and I’d say my vibe is a mix of fairy, military, and mermaid aesthetics..”
For zu Ortenburg, club culture represents the perfect fusion of her inspirations: "It's where music meets fashion meets art meets light. I grew up in these spaces," she reflects. "They taught me about myself, about others, about the full spectrum of experience. It's not always beautiful - sometimes it's dark. But that's exactly what makes it interesting. It's that dance between light and shadow that keeps inspiring me."
Get a closer look into the world of minnen.collection in this short film…
Video credit: Directed by Lou Vincent, Produced by Hyfae, Sound by Flo Hofer and Lisa Gerstenfeld
Left; Watch This Space Choker Middle; Beach Wreck Choker, Middle; Mini Charm Belt, Right; Heartbreaker Choker