Wearable Art Blog

Rings for Planet Earth

If you're in Rome, Italy, check out the Alternatives Gallery to see the Rings for Planet Earth Show that began on February 14 and runs through March 7, 2009. The show, which premiered in Tokyo, is curated by the Japanese designer Akiko Ban to bring attention to the importance of the environment and encourage action to preserve the world for future generations. Ban asked fourteen internationally renowned jewelry designers to dedicate a ring, a symbol of union, to demonstrate the bond that exists between man and his planet. Here are a couple of my favorite pieces from the show. This colorful ring (left) is made out of material that artist Doris Maninger picked out of the garbage as a way to make a statement about how we can reuse materials. Mari Ishikawa created the lovely 'Moonlight Shadow' ring (below) out of silver and gold as a tribute to the beauty of nature. What do you think about the idea behind this show?   

Hinks Taylor Fashions

Victoria Hinks Taylor is a 29 year old fashion designer from London who launched her first collection in June of 2008. Her inspirations are the very feminine, demure fashions of the 1950s and the full layered skirts of the Elizabethan period. Taylor's hand crafted work features shapely waists and full layered skirts made from an eclectic mix of materials and colorful details that create a very exciting, bold look. Taylor says, "You can change your whole persona through an outfit and tell a different story. Outfits that cause a stir, that people ask questions about. Outfits that become an extension of ourselves. I believe that's what life is about ..." What I like about Taylor's work is the electricity of the colors and materials and the flattering silhouettes they create. What do you think? See more at Hinks Taylor.

Borba Margo Handbags & Belts

Borba Margo is a collaboration between Brazilian-born Anderson Borba and Swedish-Polish Jessika Margo. Focusing on hand-crafted accessories, usually made from leather, metal and fabrics, the duo aims to "find freshness and innovation in our everyday cliches through different angles of observation ... until they mutate into unique and poetic objects." Borba Margo, based in the U.K., is known for 'Multicentric Belts,' which give the illusion of being a number of different belts worn at once. On one belt, a number of different sized and shaped brass buckles have been soldered into clusters giving off the multiple effect (below). Don't ask me how the belt actually works - it just looks amazingly different. The lovely bag (left) wraps elegantly around the shoulders, like a flowing, cascading scarf. Aren't these gorgeous pieces?       

Felted Works by Peruvian Designer Vacide Erda

Peruvian designer Vacide Erda makes very creative, colorful jewelry and bags by hand from the felt used to make traditional Andean women's hats. Erda gets the felt hats before they are glued, cuts them by hand, and creates the triangles you see on this bag (left), one by one, before attaching them to the bag. She makes all kinds of lovely small felt bags and clutches, too, which you can see on her blog, Artificio. Erda makes a variety of very feminine felt collars and necklaces, too, like the red collar below. Some of Erda's jewelry is made from the felt hat scraps - which she will cusomize by color. I love that Erda has creations that can work for most any occasion or mood. Would you wear these items? If you see something you like, you can order it by email on Artificio.

Waste Couture by Raggedyrags

How about treating yourself to a hand made corset for Valentines Day? If you're so inspired, try one from Quirky Couture. Raggedyrags, who makes corsets and other clothing by hand under the Quirky Couture label, has adopted the motto, "Be Inspired by Waste Couture." Raggedy "believes wholeheartedly in recycling neglected clothes into their next incarnation." This tailored corset is made from curtains, sheet valence and lace. How would you like one? Go to Quirky Couture to see more and order a custom corset. I discovered Quirky Couture on Outsapop.