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How this necklace design by an ancient monastery in Tibet is changing lives in America

December 14 2022 at 9:17 am EDT |  Sponsored by Devacrafts

If you have ever been curious about Tibetan Buddhism, then you need to read this amazing story about how two jewelry designers from Texas worked with an ancient Tibetan monastery to create a truly unique necklace that’s taken America by storm.

Let’s be honest, when you think about Tibet, you imagine beautiful monasteries nestled amongst mountains, filled by monks wearing orange robes.  The last thing on your mind would be jewelry!

 However, one of the most ancient monasteries in Tibet, the Drepung Monastery, is changing this perception with a revolutionary new necklace design which it developed with the help of two American jewelry designers.

Dr. Edward Yu and Vivian Yu are two siblings whose Tibetan parents immigrated to Laredo, Texas in the 1980s. They grew up to become top-level jewelry designers who worked with some of the most prestigious jewelry brands in America, including Mejuri and Zoë Chicco, helping to create stunning pieces of jewelry worn by celebrities like Serena Williams and Julia Roberts. After a three-years long trip to their parents homeland in Tibet, they came home to found Devacrafts, a spiritual jewelry company that combines their knowledge of jewelry design with the spiritual traditions of Tibet. Every single jewelry piece is made with input from the monks at the Drepung Monastery to ensure their authenticity and alignment with Tibetan traditions.

It’s not just the stunning beauty and craftsmenship of the jewelry that’s taking America by storm. It’s the deep spiritual significance of the jewelry design and the authentic cultural tradition of the jewelry themselves.

The use of malas (a mala is a string of 108 prayer beads which is traditionally used as a meditation aid but can also be worn as a necklace or a bracelet) is an ancient and integral part of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual practice. They are used to count mantras and keep track of spiritual progress during meditation.

By combining Edward’s and Vivian’s knowledge of jewelry design with the authentic spiritual traditions of the Drepung Monastery, Devacrafts has come up with truly unique, spiritually-powerful Mala designs that are already grabbing the attention of spiritually-conscious celebrities.

The result: beautiful Mala designs that combine the deep spiritual traditions of Tibetan Buddhism with a modern aesthetic that’s perfect for everyday wear in America.