Wannabe mermaid

8 May 2019

1.24k

Summer vacations on the Polish seaside are made up of long walks, inhaling iodine, and the smell of waffles. The compulsory memories of Baltic relaxation will be seashell studded souvenirs: jewelry boxes, fridge magnets, or wrist bands. And as much as such trinkets mix up a bit of kitsch with sweet nostalgia, there has been a revival of jewelry inspired by the sea. Shells in their modern rendition equal elegance and the beauty of natural forms, with a bit of shine.
‘This is a leap into the oceanic world,’ Anna Orska describes her newest collection. The Maris jewelry collection is a homage to sea creatures. According to the designer, nature needs no corrections nor embellishments, so she has recreated shapes and forms that originate underwater. She does not steer clear of imperfections nor small flaws that add a unique quality to the jewelry. In the Maris collection, Orska included her hallmark plus size earrings and necklaces, as well as more delicate forms, such as pendants or chokers with small stones. To create various shells, starfish and seahorses, Orska used mainly brass, occasionally accompanied by topaz crystals which gave the designs the feel of a light sea breeze. Additionally, the artist charms not only with the collection itself, but also with its gorgeous setting. Just take a look at the pictorial photography and the beautiful union of shots and fashion illustration.

ORSKA | pics: orska.com

Shells made in Poland

Orska is not the only Polish designer in love with the sea. The summer charm of the beach has also inspired KOPI, to name one, who focused on simplicity and natural shells adorning small gilded earrings and necklaces. Employing natural minerals makes each item unique. Interestingly, you can purchase single KOPI earrings. You can also remove the shells from them to wear as just ordinary rings. Luna Mood in the Ocean Story collection also features delicacy. The collection will have you discover mostly pearls and natural shells, but it will also evoke other maritime associations: necklaces with palms, the summer sun, or sapphires that bring a picture of the sea at night to mind. And if you have always dreamt of becoming a mermaid, just look at the subtle Luna Mood pendant with a silver shell covered with 24-carat gold. As well, UMIAR alludes to the ocean. Simple earrings and signets adopt a shell-like texture. The items may not be as literal as the other designs, yet they still call up a long stroll on warm beach sand.

KOPI | pics: kopi.com.pl

Luna Mood | pics: lunamood.pl

UMIAR | pics: umiar.pl

Zza wielkiej wody

Aquatic jewelry is a trend featured by the most popular fashion brands. Alexander McQueen had already noticed the potential of the underwater world in the previous season when creating the asymmetrical earrings of aged silver, gold and Swarovski crystals. Gucci, on the other hand, combined shells with a star design in a bracelet made of imitation ivory. The effect? Cocky romanticism that is a perfect match to a classic white shift. In our search for maritime tales of jewelry, let’s take a look at lesser known brands. Great Britain’s Blooming Dreamer uses 24-carat gold flakes to form elegant frames for various shells thus creating extraordinary pendants and earrings in which nature and shine combine into a remarkable duo. Then there is the Australian studio Dinosaur Designs exploiting resin and making jewelry that looks as if taken directly from the coral reef. We found the imposing ring shaped like the pilgrim shell absolutely irresistible. Does your jewelry box sound like the ocean too?

Alexander McQueen | pics: alexandermcqueen.com