A coffee with Incador

Great to have you with us, Alice & Karen! Can you tell us a bit about yourselves please? 

It’s so lovely to meet you! We’re sisters, we’re two years apart and we moved to England for our studies, where we ended up pursuing chemical and environmental engineering. 

We started a business together in 2024. It happened very naturally and it turns out our skill sets are very complementary. We work so well together that we now can’t imagine a world where we aren’t building something side by side! 

Individually, we always knew we wanted to create something of our own, even if we didn’t yet know what form it would take. We imagined something design-related, where we could channel our creativity. We always felt the corporate nine-to-five life wasn’t for us and we wanted the freedom that comes with entrepreneurship, even though we know it’s not as glamorous or effortless as some people think. 

Outside of work, we love being out in nature, especially by the beach, and we’re massive foodies!! 

Where did you grow up and where do you live now? 

We grew up on an island called Penang in Malaysia, although we’re not Malaysian ourselves. Our childhood involved moving around Asia quite a bit because of our parents’ work, which gave us a deep appreciation for travel, languages and new experiences. Most of our designs are actually inspired by the ocean and the rainforest, as we are obsessed with scuba diving! 

At the moment, we are based in London, which is where Incador came to life! 

Please tell us more about Incador! What was your push to start it? 

Alice worked in the recycling industry for a couple of years, focusing on projects that turned waste streams into renewable energy. That’s when we started looking deeper into other waste materials to see what could be recovered and reused. 

When we discovered how rich electronics are in precious metals, over £55 billion worth globally, we realised there was an incredible opportunity. As we’ve always loved jewellery and fashion, we thought: why don’t we combine our technical backgrounds with something we genuinely enjoy and feel passionate about? That idea became the foundation of Incador. 

Today, we create fine jewellery and engagement rings using electronics-derived recycled gold. Each piece is crafted in 18ct gold, in London, and is completely indistinguishable from traditionally mined gold. 

How has your background in engineering helped you with Incador? 

Our engineering backgrounds have shaped the way we think and solve problems, often without us even realising it. We’re very methodical and open-minded because we genuinely believe most things are possible. As long as it respects the laws of physics, there’s always a solution, it’s just a matter of figuring it out! 

What’s your favorite part about owning a business as sisters? 

Our favourite part is getting to spend so much time together and sharing this journey as a family. The pride and fulfillment you get from building something with your sister is really hard to describe, it feels bigger than the brand itself! We get to share the adrenaline highs, motivate each other and work towards our goals together. 

On a practical level, it really helps that we can be completely honest with each other. We know each other inside out, so we can sort things out quickly and move on, which makes the partnership work seamlessly. 

If you could pick your go-to Incador jewelry piece, what would it be? 

Karen’s favourite piece has to be the Lumina Diamond Necklace, a small but meaningful pendant with deep personal significance. She designed this piece to mark her graduation from Imperial College London. The teardrop shape represents moments of hardship and endurance, while the two diamonds inside symbolise the strength, love and courage we carry within ourselves. 

Alice’s favourite piece is our Signature Coral Earrings. They are especially sentimental because they were the very first design we created and they still feel incredibly unique. The design reflects our love for nature, our desire to disconnect from the digital world and our appreciation for being fully present in our surroundings. It’s a piece that really captures our identity! 

How do you guys plan on stirring things up in the future? 

We are currently developing what we believe will be one of the most responsibly sourced fine jewellery collections in the world. This collection will pair our electronic-derived recycled gold with lab-grown diamonds grown in the Swiss Alps, using 100 per cent solar energy. 

At the same time, we want to continue highlighting the story of gold as a material: why it has been treasured for centuries, how its value has consistently risen and why it is such an important resource to recycle and reuse. 

We also plan to expand our electronic collection banks across London, enabling the public to recycle their old devices more easily and participate in a circular economy. 

What does a typical day look like for you both? 

Like most entrepreneurs would say, no two days ever look the same. We try to keep some structure, but with a small team and many roles to cover, our days always end up looking different! 

A typical day can range from admin work to pitching in competitions, visiting our workshop or sourcing gemstones. We often find ourselves attending events where we speak about Incador, meeting clients for bespoke commissions or spending hours designing, sketching and developing new pieces. It truly is dynamic! 

We’ll wrap this up the Lepelclub way! How do you take your coffee? 

Karen: I don’t drink coffee. For me, it’s always a deep, green matcha, with a silky, creamy foam on top! 

Alice: I take my coffee as a double-shot oat latte, with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top!