Medical Science Graduate turned Dyke Jewellery
Designer: The Rise of
Amy Spalding
From the Rat Race to Reality Television Stardom, jewellery
designer, Amy Spalding, reveals all on her journey
to becoming lesbian royalty
designer, Amy Spalding, reveals all on her journey
to becoming lesbian royalty
Image above Photography Credit: Danni Jones
Words by Ava Lenihan
The nation was quick to label Amy as ‘Princess Diana reincarnated’, except she was the redhead, lesbian version who ran around in her bikini and boots on national television. BBC Three’s I kissed a Girl, a sort-of lesbian love island, is where it all began for Amy Spalding. Last summer, I iconized Amy through my TV screen, her vibrancy and humour swooning the nations hearts. Now, I sit around the dinner table of her grand family home in Surrey, with her mother and the three lesbian daughters she birthed, her father and all respective partners: her family home transformed into a dysfunctional lesbian supper club. As plates clatter and chatter dies down, Amy reveals all about the newfound whirlwind of fame.
Following her ‘I Kissed a Girl’, debut in the summer of 2024, ‘Amy Spalding’ became a popular name within the London network of queer fashion, music, and entertainment. As a past social media manger herself, she is now integrated into the circles she once idolised. Four years prior, she was returning home to a national lockdown with nothing but a Medical Science degree and an existential crisis.
Like many creatives confined to the shackles of their family home during 2020, a passion project was birthed. During her indulgence of Ru Paul's drags race, her love for queer culture and fashion grew, but her ADHD demanded more from her than just television bingeing. She spent days on end in front of the TV simultaneously making jewellery - specifically transforming vintage spoons into ready to wear rings under brand name SLT Studios.
3 years of spooning and the occasional custom ring later, Amy found herself situated in a small Vietnamese café, with her ex-girlfriend, where they summoned the genius idea to make a DYKE ring for her younger sister, Lucy. Unbeknownst to them, this was to become SLT’s best seller and contributed to the brands rising success. The first DYKE ring drop sold out in 4 minutes, with lesbians across the country scrambling to adorn themselves in the sterling silver sexiness. Amy had surreal instances of being served by waitresses or bar workers donning her jewellery.
With the likes of Renee Rapp, American actress and singer, posing with her ring during Paris fashion week, and Kehlani wearing her ring on stage during her UK tour, SLT studios is making waves across international waters within the queer fashion and music spaces, but who is next on Amy’s gifting list? “Julia Fox, she is so cunt”, Amy responded, “and Chappell Roan of course.”
“A little protest on your finger”, Amy exclaims, which are “a physical reclamation of words that were once used to hurt us”
These rings exceed playfulness and spectacle, but serve as symbols of pride and queer expression, “A little protest on your finger”, Amy exclaims, which are “a physical reclamation of words that were once used to hurt us,” she told GAY TIMES. She feels there is still a large gap in the media for lesbian representation and plans to use her platform for the greater good to change this narrative. Alongside her many guest appearances at queer events, Tate’s Leigh Bowery exhibition and Student Pride, she is hosting her very own lesbian panel talk in April with special guests, to raise money for Queer Britain, the UK’s first ever queer museum. “Queer Britain amplified and preserved queer voices and I want to continue do to do that with the panel”.
With SLT’S rising trajectory within the fashion community, it has created space for Amy to dip her toes into creative direction with her most recent campaign shoot. Amongst a team of well-established stylists and photographers, Amy directed her first ever campaign which showcased their new line of “SLUT”, “CUNT”, “DIVA” engraved rings, starring Lozeak, queer singer/songwriter, Cat Burns, lesbian pop singer and Tayce, Ru Paul’s Drag Race star.
“buy a DYKE ring for their mum’s side piece” or perhaps splurge on “a SLUT ring for their grandma”.
Besides the experimentation and entertaining, Spalding certainly knows how to make shameless noise and upset a few conservatives along the way. Alongside the recent campaign, she published an outrageously entertaining gift guide, ushering followers to “buy a DYKE ring for their mum’s side piece” or perhaps splurge on “a SLUT ring for their grandma”. “My mum hates them, so I know I’m doing something right,” Amy told Dazed. Her conservative mother worries about the outrageously vociferous and unfiltered digital trail Amy is leaving on the internet with her new career. Amy, however, does not plan on filtering her content anytime soon and will continue to use her platform to uplift and entertain marginalised communities. “The only scary thing about the internet is when my girlfriends Tik Tok's appear on my uncle’s For You page’’, Amy explains, which has previously consisted of content about their sexy toy collection. Gulp.
Digital Dyke drama aside, Amy opens up about the downfalls of running a small business as a neurodivergent individual. Her ADHD tends to warp her concept of time, making deadlines extremely overwhelming and difficult to meet. This is where Rupert McMinn comes in, Amy’s business partner and best friend, who brings a fresh sense of organisation and initiative. Amy admits she is the “super unorganised ADHD queen with a dream” and Rupert is Amy’s sounding board, transforming her ideas into reality with his strong sense of organisation and inclination to get the job done.
“the thief would have opened the bag of stolen goods, only to reveal he had gained 50+ engraved SLUT, DIVA, CUNT AND DYKE rings”
A particular time where Amy’s wrongful judgement and forgetfulness led to unfortunate consequences was when she left a sack of new SLT rings in her lime bike basket for 5 minutes. After returning to her bike, the bag had disappeared, discarding all time, dedication, and money they had put towards their new collection. But of course, in true Amy spirit, she admits that there was a silver lining: the thief would have opened the bag of stolen goods, only to reveal he had gained 50+ engraved SLUT, DIVA, CUNT AND DYKE rings, and with the possibility that there is a neighbourhood out there repping said rings, humoured Amy.
With a sneak peek into Amy’s quest to stamp author and actress on her portfolio next, the future looks vast and brigh. “Having severe ADHD, it’s nice to keep things fresh, so the world is my oyster, there are so many fun avenues to explore within this industry,” Amy admits. “We are living in Dykonic Times, baby. Viva la sapphic revolution.” she shouts proudly, “we’re dykes and we’re here to stay.”