August 10, 2011
by Julia DiNardo
(By Grace Gold for Fashion Pulse Daily; this feature is an extension of coverage of the Palladium Project)
I found out first-hand when talented FIT student Carlee Gustin set out to custom design an original piece for me. I asked for two things – that it feel soft and feminine – which was quite the challenge, given the industrial look of the material that sponsor Palladium provided as part of a FIT partnership program. Palladium is a naturally white precious metal that belongs to the platinum family, and is known for its strength, light weight and rich color.
A feather bracelet cuff is what Gustin cleverly created, with delicate detailing that brought the requested sense of softness and femininity to the piece, as well as a strong Native American influence. The FIT student shares more about the design journey below, as well as what it’s like to study and pursue jewelry design.
Grace Gold: Where did you find the inspiration for your feather cuff, and what do you feel were the most important aspects of the design?
Carlee Gustin: I am very inspired by old Native American jewelry. To me the feather represents flight and being free, something that should be a trait of all women. I love how the texture of the feather came out, it is exactly what I originally envisioned.
GG: What is the most challenging aspect of designing jewelry?
CG: I think the most challenging aspect of designing jewelry is figuring out how to make the piece work mechanically. You can have an amazing idea, but if its not wearable or comfortable, it probably won’t sell.
GG: What personal piece of jewelry is your most beloved, and why?
Continue reading…
May 2, 2011
by Julia DiNardo
[This photo, by Julia DiNardo, all photos following by David Lang]
[My inspiration, a Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry necklace, alongside the finished Palladium cuff]
Since November, I have been working with two jewelry design students at FIT (The Fashion Institute of Technology) and Palladium, the white precious metal, on The Palladium Project, a collaboration to create a piece of jewelry between bloggers and young, budding designers. The duo I was paired with, Melissa Kaye and Ginger Friedland were superb in every way; we clicked immediately and they worked very hard on seeing my design aesthetic come to fruition. This project, which took about five months start to finish, involved several bloggers and a bunch of beautiful designs in the end, with currently only four of each design made. Palladium the metal is white, strong, and part of the platinum family, with all designs being made solely with the material. See below for pics from the event, including some great new designs from my fellow bloggers, and a sneak peek at the Get a Life! Collection by Vivienne Westwood for Palladium!
January 26, 2011
by Julia DiNardo
I recently wrote about The Palladium Project, a unique design collaboration with bloggers and FIT jewelry students that will be making its debut in the spring, and in the meanwhile, I just gained news of Vivienne Westwood’s “Get A Life” Palladium Collection – with the designs to launch during London Fashion Week in February 2011 and sold exclusively in Vivienne Westwood boutiques in London and Los Angeles in spring 2011.
Dame Vivienne Westwood took nature and paganism as her inspiration for the collection, using shapes and objects such as acorns, and oak trees to represent her message of “Get a Life” — stopping climate change and working to save the planet. Below is a sketch from the collection – more info to come as it becomes available!
December 24, 2010
by Julia DiNardo
Palladium — a precious metal that is gaining popularity in jewelry design, used as an embellishment in Tiffany’s new handbag collection, and in jewelry designs by Marc Jacobs is at the center of a new project Fashion Pulse Daily is working on, alongside two talented designers, Melissa Kaye and Ginger Friedland at the Fashion Institute of Technology’s (FIT’s) notable Jewelry Department to create a one-of-a-kind cuff made from the material. Claire from Fashion Pulse Daily initially met with the duo to look over sketches, discuss aesthetics, and design options, with initial sketches of the collaboration piece due in January of 2011.
[Clockwise: Elsa Peretti for Tiffany, Alexis Bittar, Subversive Jewelry by Justin Giunta, Tom Binns]
Some of FPD’s inspirations include an Elsa Peretti for Tiffany cuff, and jewelry designs by Alexis Bittar, Tom Binns, Subversive Jewelry by Justin Giunta, and even a pair of Pierre Hardy shoes! By March of 2011, we will have in-hand the final item, a cuff made from Palladium – stay tuned as the design process continues!
-Julia DiNardo
