These photos showcase my new bracelet designs for AW14:
The idea of combining distinctive fabric ribbons with precious charms was in part inspired by the tradition of foundling tokens, which form part of The Foundling Museum Collection in London. Parents that were unable to care for their children and had to place them at the Foundling Hospital would leave swatches of fabric from their clothing or a silver charm or even a coin for the child to remember them by. It's a very moving place to visit and indicates how precious simple items such as a ribbon can be.
The sari ribbon used for the bracelets is Fair trade and made in India from silk waste (sari material offcuts), which would otherwise be sent to landfill sites. The ribbons are purchased from women's co-operatives in India allowing the women to work from home and earn their own income from their craft.
The bracelet can be worn in different ways making a feature bow worn on the wrist or a double knot tucked underneath the rest of the fabric. I will be making several variations over the next few weeks.
I had some very exciting news last Friday!
A range of my jewellery inspired by the Tudor and Jacobean portraits in the National Portrait Gallery, London will be on sale from Monday in their new pop-up shop on the second floor.
You can see the build of the shop in progress below:
The shop accompanies an exciting new exhibition entitled The Real Tudors: Kings and Queens Rediscovered, which opens tomorrow (Friday, 12th September).
The paintings on display juxtapose portraits of famous Tudor Kings and Queens alongside some of the objects that they most treasured in life. Examples of such objects include Henry VIII's rosary, a page from Edward VI's diary in which he reports his father's death and Elizabeth I's locket ring, which contains a miniature portrait traditionally thought to depict her mother, Anne Boleyn.
Best of all, this display is completely free!
Taking note of the highly decorative detailing on the historic costumes depicted in the portraits of Elizabeth I, I designed an entirely new range of jewellery to celebrate the fascinating styles of dress in sixteenth-century Britain.
The Lace Point Earrings above evoke the lace cuffs depicted in The Ditchley Portrait of Elizabeth I.
This Tudor Hand Pendant (above) with the Tudor Hand Earrings (below) were directly inspired by another Portrait of Elizabeth I that features Queen Elizabeth I holding a feather fan.
Finally, this Tudor Ruff Ring encapsulates the stiff, starched decorative ruffs worn by monarchs and courtiers alike giving a modern, wearable twist to a striking, historic design.
The National Portrait Gallery is situated in central London, with Leicester Square and Charing Cross as the tube nearest stations. The address is 2 St Martin's Place, London, WC2H 0HE.
I really hope that you like these new designs and also enjoy the display!
