The Amsterdam based bracelet company Pig & Hen, was established in 2013 by the two friends Dominic Bakker and Rutger Versluis. All bracelets are handmade in Amsterdam and made of authentic ship ropes. They are built to last a lifetime and, according to the founders, stronger than steel.

The name of the brand as well as the logo seems just random and cool but the story behind Pig & Hen goes back to the early 1600’s. At that time, the Netherlands had the biggest navy fleet in the world and were the leading nation sailing out to unknown parts of the world. Those rough sailors discovered new countries, different ways of life and made money by trading spices all over the world. To protect themselves against bad luck, those bearded sailors tattooed a pig and a hen on their feet. They believed that it gave them the ability to survive when they had to abandon the ship. This myth in combination with high-quality materials are the foundation for Pig & Hen.

' To protect themselves against bad luck, those bearded sailors tattooed a pig and a hen on their feet.'

Made from ship ropes and hardened steel, the materials might easily outlive their owners. The ropes are made to secure ship masts which should withstand the storm at sea, so they are durable at least. These strong materials don’t need any special treatments and when they get smelly, you can remove the shackle and throw them in the washing machine.

The ship ropes arrive on large rolls at the Pig & Hen atelier in Amsterdam. Before they are braided into the strong bracelets, they are cut into pieces. The bracelets are made with the outmost care and handled with great attention. Since every step is done by hand it is a time-consuming process to create just one bracelet.

Head over to our store to see the collection for yourself.