George Brown Polytechnic is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.
On their first day of class in the George Brown Jewellery Arts studio, Vivian took the seat beside Hubert—a seemingly unremarkable gesture that quietly set the foundation for a lifetime together. What began as shared benches and late-night studio sessions soon deepened into a partnership defined by creativity, devotion, and a love story shaped as carefully as the metal they craft.
A connection forged in the studio
Long days in the studio, evenings spent with group dinners, and countless hours troubleshooting assignments side-by-side. Their story unfolded gradually. What began as friendship and creative collaboration soon grew into something deeper.
"We hung out every day with our classmates, helped each other with assignments—everything just grew naturally from there," Hubert says.
Over nine years together, they've built a strong relationship and a shared vision rooted in craft, community, and artistic ambition.
Finding their path to jewellery
Vivian came to the program after realizing interior design wasn’t the right fit. A suggestion to explore jewellery arts “just clicked,” she says—bringing her to Canada to pursue the craft.
Hubert had always loved handcrafting. He explored interior and industrial design programs before enrolling in the Arts and Design Foundation and then found his path to jewellery. "When I found the program at George Brown, I knew this was what I'd been looking for." The idea of working in detailed, delicate forms resonated deeply with him.
For both, George Brown was a creative turning point.
“Before GBP, I was teaching myself online and running into all kinds of mistakes,” Hubert says. “At school, the professors were incredible—we could ask anything, and they always had the best answers.”
Vivian agrees: “All our professors were amazing. Their support meant everything as we were discovering who we were as artists.”
A beloved milestone from their school years: creating their first couple’s rings—sapphire for Hubert, emerald for Vivian—a symbolic marker of their early bond.
From alumni to entrepreneurs
After graduating in 2018, the pair began selling jewellery tools and studio supplies—a modest beginning that prepared them for their next step. When the pandemic halted their work, they decided to build a new business venture.
Together with a classmate, they opened Temino Jewellery, a shared studio now home to five independent brands—all founded by George Brown alumni. Within that space, Hubert launched Bao Jwlry while Vivian developed her intricately crafted enamel collections.
Creating together
Their working style mirrors their relationship: collaborative, balanced, and mutually inspiring. Hubert typically leads customer communication and sketching, while Vivian focuses on making and refining pieces.
Their creative differences strengthen the work. “My designs started out very masculine, but Vivian helped me see how they could become unisex or feminine too. She opened my eyes creatively,” Hubert says.
A studio rooted in community
Each year, the Baos host GBP students completing placement hours—offering the practical guidance they once wished they had.
“When we started out, we had no one to ask about the small things—where to cast, how to price, how to set up a website. Now we get to share those lessons with students,” Hubert says.
For them, mentorship isn’t just giving back. It’s sustaining the community that shaped them.
Love, life, and balance
Work and life blend naturally for the couple. They talk about work at home and discuss life in the studio without worrying about boundaries. “We don’t force balance. It just works for us,” Hubert says.
Vivian adds that even in busy seasons, they make sure each has their own time when needed.
Looking ahead
Hubert dreams of growing Bao Jwlry internationally—with shows in Europe and opportunities to connect with new artists and clients. Vivian hopes to continue building her enamel body of work and eventually showcase it in small or private exhibitions.
Hubert’s advice for emerging jewellers is simple and bold: “Don’t be afraid. Jewellery doesn’t have to stay inside the box—follow what you love.”
Vivian echoes the sentiment: passion and perseverance above all.
A love story built by hand
From bench mates to business partners, from students to mentors, Hubert and Vivian have crafted a life shaped by artistry, resilience, and a shared vision. This Valentine's Day, we celebrate not just their work—but the partnership at the heart of everything they create.
Craft your future with George Brown’s Jewellery Essentials
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