Wearable Art Blog

Leather Harnesses by Zana Bayne

Here's something unique to end your year on. Straight from the Forbes Magazine list of 30 Under 30: Art & Design, is 23-year old designer Zana Bayne (#3 on the list) who makes incredible leather harnesses and accessories (by hand) for regular folks and rock stars, too. Most notably, Bayne crafted intricate, full-body harnesses for a Lady GaGa music video over the summer.

After reading a few interviews with Bayne, I still can't tell you how she came to do harnesses. But here's how she describes them from an interview in Rolling Stone Magazine earlier this year: "I always present it as a classic, clean way of dressing. It really is a belt with a suspender. Showed in that form, it truly becomes an accessory, and less of a costume piece...."

 

In addition to the harnesses and wing boot straps (above) you see here, Bayne makes belts and necklaces, too. But it's the harnesses that have generated the most buzz.

If you look at Zana Bayne Garbage Dress Blog, you'll see photos of some of her black pieces and poses that make them look more like 'bondage' apparel. In a September Elle magazine interview, Bayne said that it was after doing her blog that "....she realized her interest in leather harnesses intersected with a gap in the market."

As you'll see, the harnesses shown in the Zana Bayne online store are designed for the "market" (they're also suitable for the G-rated Wearable Art Blog). Maybe Bayne is split between the conventional and her penchant for black, racy accessories.

Whatever the case, Bayne has made a splash with her distinctive pieces. You can see more and judge for yourself at Zana Bayne.

 

 

Hats, Scarves, and More by Monica Danielle

Before I went to Venice recently, I'd read about Monica Danielle in several guidebooks and decided to check her out. Little did I know how much I'd enjoy learning about her passion for keeping the rich artistic traditions of Venice alive.

Monica is a native of Venice who began her career as a painter before she switched to making hats and scarves. Part of why she became a milliner is because she felt that it's too 'political' to make a go of it as a painter - 'and there's no heart in it,' she said. In contrast, her sense of style with clothing is evident in all of the work she features in her small shop.

How about the 'Venice Hat' and dashing cape (above) modeled after those worn by the American poet Ezra Pound (below)? Pound first visited Venice at the age of 13 on a three-month tour of Europe with his mother, and he later moved there, published his first book of poems and became known for his broad-brimmed hat.

Have you ever heard of a tabarro? It's a traditional cape that Venetians often wore during Carnival and throughout the year. Danielle features beautiful handmade tabarros. Here's a gorgeous one in yellow.

If you go to Monica's website, you'll see photos taken at a tabarro celebration in 2009, showing people keen on keeping the tabarro alive (plus, you'll see some shots of Piazza San Marco, the most famous square in Venice).

In addition to carrying hats and accessories made by other artisans, Monica sells some lovely hand-knitted scarves and hats that she makes herself. I was so taken with them that I bought a black and white tam with a matching scarf. Check out the lovely rosette (above) that's one of many that adorn my new scarf.

Monica, who's been running her shop (pictured above) for many years, spoke very openly about how 'it's not possible a vitare a Venezia (to live in Venice) - it's too expensive and very difficult with all the souvenirs.' That's all the more reason why I left her shop admiring her commitment to handmade craft.   

You must visit Monica's shop if you're in Venice. I guarantee you won't leave empty handed because she goes out of her way to find something to suit you - and, there's so much to pick from. In the meantime, you can visit her virtually at MonicaDanielle.com.


(all photos except the photo of Ezra Pound are by David Gordon)

Ruffeo Hearts Lil’ Snotty

How about some irreverent, colorful, and totally fun unisex fashion?

RHLS (which stands for ‘Ruffeo Hearts Lil’ Snotty’) is a funky, eco-friendly NYC clothing label. Founded in 2005 by Macks(well) and Sarah and based in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, RHLS creates handmade clothing with a small team of what they call 'seamsters.'

 
RHLS creates their line of clothing from 'dead stock' designer sweatshirt fleece or salvaged sweatshirts, which allows them to minimize waste and their carbon footprint.

 

RHLS specializes in colorful 'geometric inlay,' which distinguishes all the pieces you see here. The 'Press Yr Luck, Cry Yr Eyes LONG Crew' (above) is made out of brown sweatshirt fleece, inlay out of dead stock sweatshirt fleece and vintage sweatshirts. Aren't the geometric patterns terrific?

RHLS describes their fall collection as a combination of "comfort and elegance into couture sleeping bag street-fighter filthy." Matching leggings, bodysuit or quad tanks/t-shirts are made to complete all outfits for a painterly unified look.

The Quadrocepticon Poncho (below) is made from black french terry with vinyl inlays.

  

It's hard not to like this clothing that looks so incredibly comfortable and the irreverance that goes along with it.

You can see more at RHLS.com or shop online at Ruffeo Hearts Lil’ Snotty’ Etsy Shop. Or, you can visit their Brooklyn store at at 214 Frankin Street (open wed-sun 1pm-9pm).

I discovered RHLS on Not Just a Label.

 

Lauren Blais Jewelry

Lauren Blais is a Boston-based metalsmith who combines traditional silversmithing techniques with new and unusual materials to create some striking pieces.  

 
A graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art with a degree in metalsmithing, Blais often uses traditional techniques such as lost wax casting, piercing, forming, fabricating, and enameling. The lovely bangle (above) is made of hand-pierced oxidized sterling silver with a snakeskin inlay. I love the silver patterns against the dark snakeskin.

Blais also uses unconventional materials like fur, exotic leathers, 'raw' minerals, and gemstones in her pieces. The necklace (above) has rabbit fur, stingray leather, snakeskin, and a quartz drusy. 

   
Blais crafts one-of-a-kind pieces with great details, like the beautifully etched silver bracelet (above). She even made the chain by hand.

Blais also makes jewelry inlaid with insects (including cufflinks for men, not shown here). On the necklace (above), the bug is inlaid in resin on an antique wallpaper background. Blais says that you can choose the background wallpaper on a necklace like this (I don't know if you can choose the insect, too...).

The earrings (below) feature snakeskin, tilapia skin, ostrich leather, and cowhide surrounded by what Blais calls a silver 'frame' as if she's setting off a painting of exotic leathers.

 
As these earrings suggest, Blais is inspired by Victorian mourning jewelry. She really has a knack for combining the 'old' with the 'new' in her work.

When my Twitter friend, the jeweler Kim O'Brien, told me that Blais is one of her favorites, I immediately understood why. You can see more of Blais' great pieces at Lauren Blais Etsy Shop.

Wearable Ceramics Jewelry Show

I just learned about the Wearable Ceramics Jewelry show running through July 2, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. It's an international collection of top-notch pieces organized by Linda Ross Contemporary Art + Projects and Tara Robinson, Curator of Ceramics at Pewabic Pottery in Detroit.

The show features a fascinating variety of styles among the works of 16 different artists from six countries. Here are just a few of my favorites. 

 

The idea of ceramic jewelry must be hot right now because the work of one of the artists, Peter Hoogeboom, who lives and works in Amsterdam, is also on display at the Museum of Arts and Design in NYC as part of the New Ceramic Jewelry Show. Peter's striking Spanish Collar (above) is made of ceramics and silver.

  
 
Ford/Forlano, based in Philadelphia and well-known for their polymer clay jewelry, made this lively colored and patterned brooch (above) of polymer clay and silver.

 

 
Shu-lin Wu of Taiwan made this playful necklace out of carved porcelain, steel wire, and silver. Wu uses the Japanese metalsmithing technique, mokume gane, to form ceramic beads that look like they could be ripening olives.

 
  
Don't the layered patterns of these beads remind you of stones found on the beach? David Elliott, an Australian who's relatively new to ceramic jewelry, made this necklace out of vitreous porcelain and metal oxide pigments.

These pieces are all so different. It's amazing that the artists have been able to transform ceramic materials into such appealing jewelry.

You can see more at Linda Ross Contemporary Art + Projects.