One silver cuff. Nine wearers. Over 10,000km travelled. Countless stories.
Inspired by the novel The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, published in the early 2000s, New Zealand jewellery label ZOEMCBRIDE launched an intimate and adventurous experiment in 2024: The Sisterhood of the Travelling Cuff.
Over a year, a Drip Cuff from the ZOEMCBRIDE Collection embarked on a journey, passing through nine women selected at random. Each was invited to adventure with the Cuff, and it captured their mark upon its silver surface, both physically and emotionally.
Made from solid sterling silver, the Drip Cuff has been designed to be worn and to adventure with its wearer; a reminder of movement, connection, and the daily rituals of life.
It has travelled over 10,000 km from Blenheim to Dunedin, Wellington to Mount Maunganui, Australia, and beyond, worn on the wrists of adventurers, artists, mothers, and storytellers alike.
The project’s heart was not just the travel but the exchange. Leaving the brief open to its wearers, Zoe didn’t anticipate the growing tradition of handwritten letters passed between participants.
What began as a simple jewellery experiment evolved into an anonymous and deeply personal connection chain. Each wearer added a note for the next, creating an unexpected archive of shared experiences and reflections:
Between each leg of its journey, the Cuff was returned to the studio for a polish, pause, and breath before setting off again. Now, the Cuff has come to rest once more in the hands of its maker, carrying with it the weight of its adventure.
“I began the project simply wanting to explore how a piece of jewellery might travel and evolve through different lives,” said Zoe McBride.
“What surprised me was how naturally the wearers built connections around it, through letters, reflections, and small everyday moments. It reinforced that jewellery is not just about adornment but marking time, experience, and movement.”
The designer has been preparing a second year of The Sisterhood. The past year has proven that jewellery is more than adornment; it’s a story, a traveller, and a keepsake of shared moments.
