The Story of Sonné

(Preparing for my first collection’s photoshoot and looking forward to many more to come!)

Sonné

It was early 2024, and I was looking to reinvent myself (more on that later). I was perched on the couch in my tiny Los Angeles condo, browsing the Internet for inspiration for my next business, when I read an article about how younger generations are losing interest in the traditional decorative arts.

A technique called cloisonné, in particular, captured my attention. It entails creating intricate, colorful designs on metal using glass pastes, which are held in place by thin metal wires. I was mesmerized by the vibrant colors, the shining gold finish of the lines, and the detailed patterns. I couldn’t let a technique so exquisite vanish.

So I taught myself everything I could about cloisonné and discovered that a simpler technique, using colored sand and glue, had recently made cloisonné accessible to everyday crafters. The problem? Outmoded designs that didn’t resonate with the younger generation.

Sonné was born to fill the gap. Over the past year, I’ve worked with a team of designers to create a series of fashionable cloisonné templates that anyone, using the materials provided in each kit, can follow to create their own works of contemporary art, rooted in tradition.

My Newfound Purpose

Back in 2022, after the end of a decade-long relationship, I moved across the country to Los Angeles for a new start. I was struggling to find myself and needed a new focus.

I discovered the book Untamed by Glennon Doyle. She tells the story of a cheetah born in a zoo who spends her days running after a stuffed bunny that a zookeeper drives around in a jeep for her to chase. She never glimpses the world beyond and never realizes her true purpose. She’ll never be a cheetah running in the wild.

I’d always wanted to be an entrepreneur. I’d always wanted to create something that would bring others joy. I had a longstanding interest in art. But for too many years, I’d played a supporting role in someone else’s life. I was comfortable but never satisfied. I was trapped like the cheetah. I wasn’t free to run, to fall, to get up again on my own. When I discovered cloisonné, I broke free. 

Sonné is my new passion and purpose. I hope I’ll be remembered someday as the guy who preserved an important part of our cultural heritage and legacy through art. This time, I’m writing my own script, and I’m the main character. The first Sonné design I created is of a cheetah.

I’ve found that the process of rebuilding myself is similar to my mission of introducing a traditional art technique to a new audience. This once-celebrated art form, cloisonné, needs to be reborn so it can shine again. This time, brighter than ever.

Danny Zhou

Founder of Sonné