Wearable Art Blog

Solar Vintage by Elena Corchero

Fashion and interaction designer Elena Corchero created the Solar Vintage Collection, an assortment of bangles, bags and other accessories, to explore the connections between traditional craft and technology. The collection, which combines solar cells with antique textiles, features decorative ambient lights (left photo) that light up at night, powered only by energy collected during the day. Corchero received a judges' special commendation in the British Council's UK Young Fashion Entrepreneur Awards during London Fashion Week in February 2009. My favorite piece from the collection is this beautiful hand held fan (below) that is so colorful and feminine. Corchero is currently a Senior Research Associate at Distance Lab in Scotland, "a creative research organization for digital media technology and design." You can see more of the Solar Vintage Collection at the Distance Lab site. I discovered Elena Corchero on the Talk to My Shirt blog.

  

Innovative Polymer Clay Jewelry by Ford & Forlano

Steven Ford and David Forlano, both graduates of the Tyler School of Art (part of Temple University in Philadelphia), have been collaborating on jewelry design using polymer clay since 1988, when they were pioneering new ways to use polymer clay to create jewelry. Their work has evolved since then, and they are now incorporating precious metals with polymer clay and using textured surfaces -- practices they innovated in the field. I love the soft, lovely colors and designs drawn or sculpted in the organically shaped pieces. Cluster Brooch (left) is made with polymer clay 'pebbles' and set in sterling silver with 24k gold. Circle Brooch (below) is made with polymer clay and sterling silver. They also make sculptural reversable necklaces with different designs on the back! You can see more of their work at their upcoming show at the Velvet da Vinci Gallery in San Francisco from May 1 - May 31, 2009 and online at Ford & Forlano on Flickr and Facere Jewelry Art Gallery.

  

  

     

Fashion Designer Geoffrey B. Small

Fashion pioneer Geoffrey B. Small began his career in 1976  selling blue jeans for the Gap Stores in Boston. Over the decades, Small has achieved international acclaim for producing innovative, high-quality work. Today, Small makes all of his products by hand in Italy in limited edition series (500 per season) for about 15 retail clients around the world. Small believes in creating "pure new research work, and new fashion based on design and innovation, not hype, media buzz or a system push." Pictured here are two works from Small's recent "16th-Century Elizabethan Research Collection." For the vest, Small used vintage Piacenza cashmere and hand carved buttons. You can read about Small and see more of his work on Not Just A Label.

Shoe Sculptures by Marina Dempster

Marina Dempster is a Toronto-based artist whose shoe (and other) sculptures are made using a traditional Mexican Huichol Indian craft technique called 'yarn painting.' Dempster places lines of yarn across a surface that is covered with a mixture of warm bees' wax and pine resin. She then adds other materials, like beads and fur, to create colorful wearable art. Dempster's "ebullient" shoes featured here are 'found' and embellished with glass seed beads and Macaw feathers (from the keeper at the Toronto Zoo) that Dempster pulled apart into their individual barbs. I love the wild design, bright colors, and outrageous use of feathers that even extends down to the bottom of the shoes. What about you? Dempster's shoe sculpture work will be on view at two upcoming shows: Fuller Craft Museum (Brockton, MA) from June 6, 2009 through January 3, 2010, "The Perfect Fit: Shoes Tell Stories" and The Bata Shoe Museum (Toronto), from May 21st to June 6th, 2009, "Art and Sole."

 

 

 

 

Senay Akin Rings

Photographer-turned-jewelry-artist Senay Akin creates one-of-a-kind and limited edition jewelry. She learned her craft in the gold center of Istanbul, Turkey and in Vicenza, Italy. Akin has been making jewelry in her home town of Istanbul for the last 3 years. Her rings are my favorite. I love the unusual shapes of her ring bases and the way the color of the stones contrasts with the color of the bases. The dramatic ring (left) with an amethyst stone is set in 18 karat gold on a silver base. The lovely ring (below) has a freshwater pearl in a dramatic 18kt gold setting on sterling silver. Go to Senay Akin on Flickr or Senay Akin Studio Jewelry on Etsy to see more.