The Beginning
Hi, my name is Kayo, and I am the founder of Parampara. I am a writer, a librarian, and a bona fide jewellery addict. Parampara is my passion project that combines my loves: Travelling, jewellery, and storytelling.
Born in Japan to Taiwanese parents, travelling has always been a part of my life. By the time I was 10, I had lived in Japan, Taiwan, and Canada. In 2008, I left Vancouver to pursue a career as an academic librarian. My career took me to the UAE, Bahrain, and Hong Kong. In December 2019, my husband Derek and I moved to Sri Lanka for a new adventure, and this is where Parampara began.
From spending all my pocket money on stick-on earrings to begging my mother to buy me a Swarovski crystal turtle at the duty-free, I’ve always had an eye for shiny, sparkly things. (For the record, my mother did not buy it for me, but my grandmother did.) When I was an undergraduate student in Vancouver, Blue Ruby on Robson Street became my favourite store. Whenever I had a moment, I visited it and ogled over all the pretty things. I had expended hundreds of my hard-earned dollars from my part-time job at Chapters, a chain bookstore also on Robson Street. I was always broke, but I had a collection of gorgeous baubles that I could show off.
In addition to jewellery, I am also obsessed with books and stories. I still remember my very first Christmas present—When I was four, my parents laid a copy of The Little Mermaid next to my pillow on Christmas Eve. As a teenager, I read voraciously and devoured anything I could get my hands on. By the time I was an undergrad, my job at Chapters had exacerbated my book habit. Whatever I didn’t splurge on jewellery, I spent it all on books.
As an adult, I became an academic librarian, resigned to a life of teaching and research. But I wasn’t happy—I wanted a creative outlet; I wanted to write books. So, in 2017, with Derek’s blessing, I quit my job and started my MFA in Writing. Since graduation, I’ve written for some lifestyle publications and two of my essays have been published (so far). However, my writing wasn’t paying the bills. As I watched my savings dwindle, I had to develop a plan to start my own business that would combine all the things I love.
In early 2020, when we first came to Sri Lanka, Derek and I spent a lot of time in antique shops scouring for furniture. Eventually, I discovered the old jewellery in dusty cabinets in the corner. I became enamoured with Sri Lankan jewellery—specifically, the pieces worn by Kandyan brides. I soon found my first Agasti necklace, one of the seven chains a Kandyan bride would wear on her wedding day. I started to fall in love with antique necklaces and bracelets all over the place. It was like a chase—my heart couldn't rest until I surrounded myself with many lovely old things.
"You can't possibly wear all this jewellery and keep spending money like this," Derek said. "You need to turn this obsession into a business. Use your writing skills to sell jewellery."
This is the beginning of Parampara—a platform to tell stories about Sri Lanka through its vintage and antique jewellery.
It took me a long time to find an appropriate name for my brand. Since the business started in Sri Lanka, I wanted something connected with its languages, Sinhala and Tamil. I settled on "Parampara,” a Sanskrit word that refers to the succession of knowledge from one generation to the next. It could also mean “uninterrupted series,” "continuation," or "heritage."
Parampara is my homage to Sri Lanka and its beautiful cultures. Each Parampara jewellery piece comes with a short story about Sri Lanka. However, if you want to discover each story's minute details and Sri Lankan's complex history, you will need to read Parampara Stories— where my skills as a researcher and writer come out to play. You will be charmed by the fascinating aspects Sri Lankan customs, such as the Kandyan wedding rituals, the big girl party, and New Year’s celebration. You will also uncover the life stories of strong Sri Lankan women that inspired me, such as the poet Gajaman Nona and the architect Minnette De Silva.
Please join me on my journey. There are so much I want to tell you about Sri Lanka!