upbeads began in 2019 as a project between two friends, Sophie Mahlo and Michal Hirsch. What started as a simple idea – creating a chain so we wouldn’t lose our keys – quickly grew into something bigger: a way to combine practicality, comfort, and beauty with purpose.

A few years later, Sophie moved on, and I’ve continued building upbeads on my own, staying true to the spirit we started with. As a mother of three (and a dog), I know how chaotic everyday life can be. That’s why I wanted upbeads to be not only useful, but also meaningful: sustainable in its materials and supportive of women who want to work from home and still finance their lives.

Every chain is handcrafted here in Hamburg by women I know personally. We use only FSC®-certified wooden beads and durable German paracord. And because giving back matters, we plant one tree for every chain sold in partnership with Eden: People + Planet.

What began as a small solution for lost keys has grown into a collection of phone chains, bag straps, and accessories loved around the world – all made with love, all with a purpose.