Meet the jewellery designer projected to make $1million selling bold and bright pieces: Emma Pills

A 20-year-old jewellery designer beloved by celebrity clientele launched her first collection when her gap year was cancelled due to Covid – and has been kicking major career goals ever since.

Emma Pillemer, who lives in Vaucluse, Sydney, finished high school at the end of 2019 and began teaching dance classes to save money for her year abroad – only for a global pandemic to hit just a few months later.

Determined not to waste time – and still wanting to have fun – she spent months developing a jewellery line with the savings she had before launching Emma Pills on a website her sister helped create in September 2020.

Three months later and Emma’s jewellery was being stocked on The Iconic – making her the youngest designer to feature on the retail website – and being worn by the likes of Abbie Chatfield (right), Delta Goodrem and Camila Coelho (left)

‘It was small but many of the pieces sold out and that gave me the confidence to go bigger with my vision,’ she told Daily Mail Australia. 

Three months later and Emma’s jewellery was being stocked on The Iconic – making her the youngest designer to feature on the retail website – and being worn by the likes of Carrie Bickmore, Delta Goodrem and Camila Coelho.

Obsessed with jewellery, fashion and beading from her time spent dancing as a young girl, Emma’s designs are known for their bold prints and signature pill box packaging.  

They were featured at the Afterpay Australian Fashion Week – again making her the youngest designer to do so – before Monday Swimwear co-founder Natasha Oakley came on board to help Emma launch in the US and UK. 

Obsessed with jewellery, fashion and beading from her time spent dancing as a young girl, Emma’s designs are known for their bold prints and signature pill box packaging

‘I still can’t believe how lucky I am to have Tash in my life. She was doing a photoshoot at my house and we instantly connected,’ Emma said.

‘I had just launched Emma Pills and she gave me some business tips. The relationship really developed from there. We laugh that I am the younger version of her and I really hope that’s true as she is just so incredible. 

‘I love designing jewellery and working on the creative part of the brand with my sister Ashley who does all of the Emma Pills graphics and web design – but when Tash started to speak about helping to launch globally and becoming CEO I knew it was the perfect next step.’

Her Obsession Hoops ($121) are some of the most popular earrings the brand stocks, alongside the Extra Necklace ($121) and The OG ($76) – Emma’s first ever creation. 

Her Obsession Hoops ($121) are some of the most popular earrings the brand stocks, alongside the Extra Necklace ($121) and The OG ($76) – Emma’s first ever creation

While the brand hasn’t even celebrated its two year anniversary yet Emma is navigating the fashion world swiftly and successfully, with WWD claiming the brand will be worth $1.42million in 2023

‘The colours of them are incredible and the profits of the Pink Glo Emma Pills The OG are donated to BCRF Cure to help with research into breast cancer cures,’ she said.  

‘We have a very exciting year coming up but my main focus is to design more edgy, cool, unique, good quality jewellery at a great price point for cool people everywhere.

‘I have a few amazing collections launching in March with designs that I’m so excited about, and have recently secured a huge US retailer who will be launching the designs in time for festival season.’

While the brand hasn’t even celebrated its two year anniversary yet Emma is navigating the fashion world swiftly and successfully, with WWD claiming the brand will be worth $1.42million in 2023. 

‘When I see amazing girls on Instagram tag Emma Pills or in the clubs come up to me I get the same rush of excitement that people are rocking my pieces,’ she said.