Quitting Safe for Something Shiny
- Nov 10, 2025
- 3 min read
By Jeen Low
Five years ago, I walked away from the everyday predictability of a 9–5 to run a glitter company. A biodegradable glitter company, to be exact.
It sounds bold — and it was — but it didn’t feel like a leap at the time. It felt like the only honest next step in a story I had already started writing.
I was working in design and tech — a field I’d trained for, succeeded in, and built a stable life around. But by night (and lunch breaks, and weekends), I was pouring my energy into something wildly different: Projekt Glitter. A small, purpose-driven brand I had founded to bring beauty, joy, and sustainability together in a way that felt personal, powerful, and badly needed.
I loved glitter — the ritual of putting it on, the festival moments it helped mark, the way it made people light up. But as I learned more about what conventional glitter left behind — microplastics in our rivers, oceans, and soil — I couldn’t ignore the disconnect. And I didn’t see myself - a Malaysian woman, a creative, an idealist — reflected in the beauty industry’s mainstream narrative.
So I created my own lane.
At first, it was just an experiment. Small batches. Word of mouth. Friends sharing it at events. But slowly, it grew. People responded — not just to the sparkle, but to what it stood for: a permission slip to show up, shine boldly, and still care deeply.
The defining moment came in 2019. Projekt Glitter was growing, but I was stretched thin. Two full-time jobs — one paid, one from passion. Something had to give. The obvious choice was to scale back the glitter. The sensible choice was to stick with the career I’d built.
But I chose the scary option: I quit.
I left behind the steady salary, the health benefits, the predictable path. And I bet on a glitter brand.
There was no viral moment. No investor funding. Just belief. In the mission, in the people it was for, and in myself.
That one decision — to go all in — reshaped everything. It turned Projekt Glitter from a side hustle into a business. It allowed me to show up fully for the brand, the community, and the creativity that fuels it. And it redefined what success looks like for me.
Through all the pivots and challenges, gratitude has been my compass. Gratitude for the customers who took a chance on a small brand. Gratitude for the messages that said, “This made me feel seen.” Gratitude for the struggles that taught me to lead with values, not fear. Even in moments of doubt, I found strength by returning to what I was grateful for — the joy, the connection, the purpose.
Today, Projekt Glitter is still indie, still woman-owned, still purpose-led. We ship globally. We’re featured in festivals, editorials, and now — in magazines like this. We’ve become a brand people trust, not just to make them look good, but to reflect their values.
I’m grateful every day that I chose courage over comfort. That I didn’t wait for perfect timing or outside permission. That I let joy lead — and let the glitter follow.
Berlin, the city I call home, played a huge role in that. It’s a place where unconventional dreams are encouraged. Where creativity is currency. And where I’ve found both space and support to build something that feels like me.
To anyone standing at the edge of a big decision: you don’t have to have it all figured out. You just need to move in the direction of what feels true.
Sometimes, that direction is sparkly.
And sometimes, it leads exactly where you’re meant to go.
About the Author
Jeen Low is the founder of Projekt Glitter, a Berlin-based, Malaysian-woman-owned brand reimagining celebration through sustainable, biodegradable glitter. With a background in design and technology, she spent years building digital experiences before leaving her 9–5 to pursue Projekt Glitter full-time in 2019.
Today, she blends creative expression with environmental purpose — helping people all over the world celebrate boldly and responsibly. Her mission is rooted in inclusive joy, radical self-expression, and the belief that sustainability should feel beautiful, not restrictive.
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