Jewellery brand Deafmetal is showing how wearers of hearing aids and cochlear implants can reclaim their identity and feel proud of their hearing loss journey by featuring its products in a new exhibition at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.
Founded by Finnish designer Jenni Ahtiainen, Deafmetal transforms hearing aids and cochlear implants into bold, beautiful jewellery, known as Deafmetals.
Now, Deafmetal is being honoured at the world’s largest museum of design history. The Victoria and Albert Museum chose the brand for its new exhibition Design and Disability, which celebrates the radical contributions of disabled, deaf and neurodiverse creatives to global design culture.
Deafmetal, which supplies its products to over 30 countries, says its inclusion marks a major milestone in how we view hearing loss, technology, and self-expression.
For Jenni and her team, all of whom are either hearing instrument users or work closely with hearing loss, this moment is deeply personal. “I didn’t want to hide my hearing aids,” Jenni explains. “I wanted to make them mine.”
Deafmetal began with a simple act of rebellion; or, as Jenni puts it, an instinct for “tuning things up.” When she was first fitted with hearing instruments, the colour didn’t fit with her personal style, but she wasn’t able to cover them with her hair.
As a lifelong jewellery designer, she took her new devices to her studio and combined thin leather, chain, an earring and tiny hand-stitched details to make a cover that felt like part of her.
“It started with a piece I made for myself. I didn’t realise I had created something entirely new until I shared a photo online and it went viral. Then the Finnish Hearing Association called and said, ‘Can we do something together?” Jenni added.
From there, Deafmetal grew into something much bigger than accessories, and Jenni says that it became a movement, rooted in self-expression, behaviour change, and a deeper conversation about how society views hearing loss.
Deafmetal pieces are not just decorative, but protective as well, securing devices with earrings, rings or holsters so they don’t fall out. The brand states that this feature is especially valued by athletes, older users, whose ears change shape over time, and anyone who’s experienced the panic of losing a hearing instrument.
“We’re launching a new range specifically for men and active users,” Jenni shares. “It’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about function, safety, and confidence.”
In a recent survey of 147 hearing device users, 92.4 per cent said they felt more confident wearing embellishments on their hearing instruments, and 71.3 per cent reported worrying less about losing their devices thanks to Deafmetal’s secure styling.
Many audiologists have embraced the products as tools for improving confidence, retention, and overall device usage. “Their job is to help people actually wear their hearing aids,” Jenni explains. “Our Deafmetals support that in a way that feels human and joyful.”
It’s a mission that aligns closely with the British Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (BIHIMA), which is proud to support Deafmetal’s inclusion in the Design and Disability exhibition.
BIHIMA Chairman Paul Surridge commented: “Too many people still avoid or delay wearing hearing instruments because of stigma.
“Design-led solutions like Deafmetal are vital. They don’t just improve the user experience – they challenge the outdated attitudes that surround hearing loss.”
The data backs it up. According to the last EuroTrak UK survey, nearly a quarter of people with hearing loss still wait more than five years before seeking help, and stigma remains a key barrier.
Deafmetal’s 2024/25 audiologist survey also revealed concerns around hearing instrument uptake, with professionals calling for more tools to support patient confidence and engagement.
The Design and Disability exhibition at the V&A runs through 2025, showcasing the creativity and ingenuity of those too often excluded from the design world.
For Jenni, it’s a of moment of reflection: “After working in the fashion and music industries as a professional designer for many years, I have never felt more passionate about my designs, nor have I ever felt that my creations are as important to the world, as I do now.”
A personalised intervention for hearing care could help protect cognitive health in older adults at risk of dementia, according to a pilot study from University College London and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
https://thiis.co.uk/deafmetal-to-be-honoured-for-inclusive-jewellery-at-the-vas-design-and-disability-exhibition/https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Deafmetal-2-900×550-1.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Deafmetal-2-900×550-1-150×150.jpgEvents & ExhibitionsNewsroomTrade NewsBIHIMA,British Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association,hearing aid,Hearing Aid Accessories,hearing aids innovation,personalised technologyJewellery brand Deafmetal is showing how wearers of hearing aids and cochlear implants can reclaim their identity and feel proud of their hearing loss journey by featuring its products in a new exhibition at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.
Founded by Finnish designer Jenni Ahtiainen, Deafmetal transforms hearing aids and…Millie YorkMillie
York[email protected]EditorTHIIS Magazine
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