All posts filed under: Things for Wearing

24 Share it Gold by Tomorrow Lab

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When the product designers at the New York City-based firm Tomorrow Lab discovered that the key fob for New York City’s Citi Bike share system could be cracked-open, they decided to transfer the key’s tiny RFID tag into a new container. Given the demands of the antenna position, the team could not stray too far from the original fob shape so, with design support from architectural journalist Laura Raskin, they came up with an elongated badge-like pendant shape that can be worn like a piece of jewelry. The on-demand 3D printing service, Shapeways.com, allowed Tomorrow Lab to create a gold-plated, stainless steel version of the product. Now if they could do something creative with all of those small plastic loyalty cards on my keychain.

Lovely Pigeon

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Why do I love the work of British designer Kirsty Thomas? It’s not just because she’s promised to take me out for fish and chips next time I’m in Scotland. I first fell for the copper- and formica-accented line of handcrafted jewelry—not to mention her copper-foil adorned cards and notebooks—when I spotted the display of her design studio Lovely Pigeon at the designjunction expo during last September’s London Design Festival. Thomas is a print maker, jeweler, illustrator, and “occasional shopkeeper” who works out of an old net loft in Cellardyke, a fishing village on the East coast of Scotland. I asked Thomas about her use of copper, which was a strong trend at the festival. Why do you use so much copper in your work?  I love the copper/brass trend that has emerged recently. The softer, warmer tones of copper, bronze, and brass add a bit of bling and glamour without being ostentatious or showy. I also think warm metallics have a heritage feel and using them in their raw state has a truth and simplicity that you …

Inca Starzinsky Jewelry

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I met Inca Starzinsky during last month’s London Design Festival, where she was displaying a collection of her jewelry and accessories at the Tent London exhibit at the Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch. A graduate of Central Saint Martins in 2000 and the Royal College of Art in 2007, Starzinsky has worked as a graphic designer, printed textile designer, design director, and artist. Part of the design and editorial team of Graphic magazine from 2002–2006, Starzinsky developed her skills in printed textile design at the Royal College of Art. I was drawn into Starzinsky’s booth by the vibrant colors of her geometric acrylic pieces. My favorites are the Fade series of necklaces and the Spin series of pendants, brooches, bracelets, and rings made from digitally-printed two-ply acrylic which is laser-cut and finished with silver loops and chain. Each of the variations features bold gradient coloring. The Hackney Clouds and Sunset series of brooches are based on photographs of the sky — they are like little peepholes into the heavens. I asked a Inca a few questions …

ACME Eyeglass Cases

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ACME Studio, a Hawaiian company famous for their colorful pens, card cases, and other accessories, has introduced a fun new line of eyeglass cases designed by artists, designers, and architects, including designs inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Antoni Guadi. My favorites are the X-Ray design by Ben Hall, featuring drawings from vintage advertisements, and the clever Eye Chart case designed by Adrian Olabuenaga. Other designs in the collection include pieces by Debora Jedwab, Constantin Boym, and Arik Levy, among others. The cases are $35 each and are available through Design Mafia.

Orange Peel Jewelry

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One of my favorite new jewelry finds from this winter’s New York Gift Show was the Calamarie Orange Peel Collection. These handcrafted “roses” start out as orange peels that are collected from street juice vendors and thoroughly cleaned before undergoing a lengthy sun-drying, shaping, and dyeing process. The pieces, which retain a mild scent of orange, are designed in the U.S. and handmade in Colombia by dozens of gifted women artisans across the country. Other collections from Calamarie include jewelry designs made of hand-painted seeds, woven metalwork, and discarded silk worm cocoons. Calamarie founder Catalina Lemaitre travels to Colombia three times a year to work with the artisans, develop new designs, and oversee production. Lemaitre was inspired to create the collection out of an interest in the environment, the economic development and empowerment of women, and the preservation of traditional art forms. The company gives back in other ways as well. “We also develop alliances with artisan coops and foundations to design and develop custom products that support educational and arts programs for children in Colombia as well as other important causes …

Oh My Clumsy Heart Jewelry

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Sophie Davies is a designer living in the South East of Kent in England, where she makes minimal, modern jewelry for the wonderfully named Oh My Clumsy Heart. Her collections range from classic jewelry with a modern twist, to geometric designs, to her latest collection of geology-inspired pieces adorned with titanium quartz and pyrite. We asked Sophie a few questions about her work, and where she finds inspiration. Quartz Necklaces Designy Things: When did you start designing jewelry? Did you study jewelry design in school? Sophie Davies: I started making jewelry around 18 months ago. I wanted to make
 something I would buy and wear myself —minimal designs that are lovely to
 look at. Mostly everything I have learned has been self-taught. When I want 
to make something, and I don’t know how, I teach myself.  I do, however, have
 a degree in Media and Popular Culture with a heavy focus on advertising,
 design, and branding — something that comes in very useful. D.T. Where do you source the stones from the geology line? S.D.: When I have decided on what …