AQUA/MARINE – about my new collection

It’s getting warm outside and it feels like summer is right around the corner, no better time for the new Summer 2014 collection – AQUA/MARINE.

The process of designing and launching a new collection is long and complicated and many times it feels like being pregnant with a new baby. This time it was a double pregnancy, with me being actually pregnant these days, a fact that made the whole process a bit challenging. But now that the collection is finally born, I can get myself ready to have my real baby, which is due in the next few weeks.

The new collection is inspired by the ocean – from the rich underwater life, the nautical world and beach culture.

The idea to design this collection came from my brother-in-law, Emil, who called me a year ago following a visit with their kids to the underwater observatory in Eilat, suggesting that I design a collection inspired by the underwater creatures. I actually thought about it too a year and a half ago while visiting the amazing aquarium in Osaka, Japan, but I put that thought aside. I was a bit reserved about the idea even after that phone call, but as you can see – at the end it felt right and it just happened.

The new collection is divided into two main series:

The first takes its inspiration from the underwater world and the rich life that hides in it – fish, corals, jellyfish, starfish, etc.

The second series is inspired by the nautical world and beach culture, and incorporates nautical elements such as anchors, ropes, wheels, boats, etc.

In every new collection I make it a point to use new materials and techniques, and this time the focus on the nautical world attracted me to use ropes, in different forms, starting with fascinating knots (the knowledge I’ve collected at this point could compete with any experienced sailor’s) and on to using a Japanese technique to dye the cotton ropes.

I learned this dying technique in a textile dying course I took lately, and after many experiments, I managed to reach the delicate gradual effect and color palette that I wanted. The dyed ropes go really well with the gold and silver plated metals which I use. The result is in jewelry that keeps my clean aesthetics, with a new and exciting twist.

The new collection catalog was shot (as usual) by Ziv Sade, Inbal Masas did the hair and makeup and Hilla Gershon was responsible for the styling.

You may remeber that in my previous Northern Lights catalog I combined delicate graphics on the images, and this time I decided to take the idea one step further. I collaborated with the talented illustrator Gabriella Barouch , who illustarted all the catalog images. I feel that this collaboration succeeded to interpret the richness of ocean life and to portray it in the catalog. You’ll be able to read more about this collaboration in a future post I will dedicate to it.

This season I also collaborated with a fashion blogger I’ve been following for a few years – Fashion Pea. Dar Mashiach is amongst the pioneer Israeli bloggers, and runs a fashion blog I really love. I invited her to design a bracelet for the new collection with me. We designed the piece we named Beach Bracelet, and you are welcome to read about our meeting in her blog.

Now comes the really exciting part- seeing you wearing the jewelry and getting connected to the new collection.

I hope you’ll like it. After all, it was you I was thinking about when I designed it.

Yours,

Shlomit