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| Swarovski Releases Latest Edition of Crystallized at Autumn/Winter 2006 Launch Event | |||||||||||||||||||
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The
event included a trend seminar for customers and designers in the fashion
industry, as well as for design students, Ms,
Bernice S, Quiambao, Market Manager for Crystal Fashion Components
for North and South East Asia was the guest speaker and Ms. Pornthip Asavajaruphan,
Marketing Services and Communications Executive Swarovski Thailand assisted
her as a translator. Ms. Rattana Payubyupapong, Key Account Manager, introduced
the latest products and innovations to the audience
and Mr. Sawat Posinsomwong, Director CCB Thailand performed
the closing ceremony. |
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Guests
were introduced to the five new trend themes as identified in the latest
issue of Crystallized. These were displayed in the form
of crystal encrusted jewellery items by top international designers along
with the latest products from Swarovski Crystal Innovations.
There was a static show for Swarovski crystal Sports & Casual Wear
that feature the bonding of fashion and crystal and
how it can result in entirely new dress codes. On show was an entirely
new selection of ultra cool urban and leisurewear attesting
to the limitless permutations and combinations that Swarovski crystals
allow to the creative mind. The five new trends for Fall/ Winter 2006 as identified by Swarovski'strend research experts in this issue of Crystallized are all about light and brightness. The need for illumination in these dark days of international terrorism and nature's wrath sparkle through crystal clear. |
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The
first of this quintet of styles is Classic Lights, which challenges lovers
of classical fashion to become a tad more bold and inject
a dab of cheeky humour into the clear lines of tailoring reminiscent of
vintage 1930'sand 40's design. Think of Classic Lights
as "tradition with a twinkle"; tweeds, tartans, hounds-tooth,
and herringbones are given a light and flirtatious touch
with crystals. It is fashion that nods benignly at the post World War
II silhouette, pays passing homage to Elsa Schiaparelli,
reflects on grandmother'sjewel boxfor crystal, pearls, antique gold and
silver inspiration and adds a light eccentric touch
to timeless Brritish symbols. |
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Neon
Lights is all flashing lights and brilliant inspiration. It has the over
the top, overtly artificial aura of the digital art
of neon, hypnotic strobes in nightclubs. It is disco culture fashion
that uses the juxtaposition of darkness to bring colours flashing to life.
This trend is based on the use of high tech looking
fabrics and materials like silver, aluminium, Perspex, and
translucent plastic in combination with neon like crystals such as Peridot,
Fire Opal, Blue Zircon, Purple Velvet, Jet and Black
Diamond.
Spiritual Light traverses in the opposite direction towards inner calm and joy where the search for meaning leads to extreme areas like Outer Mongolia. It focuses on the insignificance of man in the scheme of things of the universe and revels in a Zen like contentmentand reflects the burnished copper of ancient cooking vessels. This style gets its substance from rustic textiles in traditional designs, chunky buckles, clasps and jewellery that offset the contrasts in unexpected combinations like fur and beads, handcrafted metals, all which get a touch of light from the presence of crystal. This trend finds its medium in colours like Topaz, Crystal Copper, Silk, Indicolite and Purple Velvet. Then there is Moonlight, soft and diffused, all romance and mystery. This trend is all about contrasting moods - dark romance and pearly white, melancholy and frippery, Victorian severity and Marie Antoinette style coquetry. |
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Contrasts are essential to achieve the desired effect: crisp crochet oversoftsatin, a silk ribbon threaded through a metal cuff, crystals sparkling from stiff tulle. It deals with serious concepts like ritual, order and religion. It is about dark brooding romance that smoulders even as it is comforted by the glow of crystal pearls and White Alabaster. Moonlight is enhanced by products like Purple Velvet, Mystic Black, and Dark Purple Crystal Pearl. Lastly, there are the Stage Lights, absolutely the last word in glamour, recalling the voluptuous, opulent, decadent and dramatic life of the opera or the Jacobean theatre, It luxuriates in fabrics like rich brocades and velvets embellished with crystal beading and embroidery and embody the idea of escapism, to lose the drudgery of daily life in a canvas of dreams that transcends the ordinary into the realm of the fantastic. Crystal Copper, Fire Opal, Emerald and Purple Velvet are the crystal colours that can keep pace with this trend. New fashions are matched with new products and Swarovski is a past master at crystal innovations. Its latest offeringsfor the Fall/Winter 2006 season include Purple Velvet and Crystal Copper, which are available in chatons, flat backs, beads and fancy stones as well as crystal mesh, metal and plastic trimmings, cupchains, findings and transfers. |
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Newshapes
include the Helix Bead, which is a classic bead with spiral-cut facets
and gently rounded edges at the hole. The unique spiral staircase shape
refracts light in constantly surprising ways, while the rounded edges
make it extremely userfriendly. The versatile Helix Bead adapts easily
to use in jewellery, accessories and textiles. The Simplicity Bead on
the other hand has a symmetrical yet rough cut appearance similar to a
gemstone that is perfect for classic jewellery or to meld into the clean
modern lines of fashion items, making it ideal for adding that extra dimension
to shoes, bags, scarves, hats, jackets and waistcoats. NewSquareRondelles
have been created to complement the existing square beads and come in
all sizes to match it. |
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New cuts
include the Flower Bead, Pendant and Fancy Stone and the Butterfly Bead,
all of which speak of nostalgia and romance, kindling the spirit of carefree
youth and purity. Reminiscent of love, peace and the era of flower power
or even the Victorian age, the new components come in a range of pastel
shades and can add the perfect feminine touch to eyewear, jewellery, shoes,
or handbags. |
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Two
new colours have been added to the crystal pear! collections: Mystic Black
and Dark Purple Crystal Pearl. They exhibita creamy depth and beauty that
reflects the mellowtones of autumn and exude sophistication when worn
against black or contrasting paler hues. The latest line up of Findings are now made in a single stone setting with two parallel holes in the cup, allowing Baguettes, Navettes, Pears, Ovals, Squares to be strung together in just about any combination. Truly, when the material is Swarovski, the only limits to artistic expression lie within the boundaries of the designer's own imagination. |
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| ICA Concludes Colombia Tour | |||||||||||||||||||
In the latest
of its exclusive mine tours programme, the International Colored Stone
Association (ICA) hosted a weeklong tour from October 22-29, of the legendary
emerald mines of the South American nation of Colombia. Prepared by the
ICA members in Colombia, in collaboration with the mine owners, it was
a unique opportunity to explore firsthand the different aspects of the
Colombian gem industry from extraction to export including mining, cutting,
laboratories and local business houses through a combination of road and
helicopter transport for complete security of the visitors. The sixteen participants visited the back doors of local gem enhancement laboratories, cutting factories (shops really), and export offices. They then proceeded on to an extended visit of the three main emerald mining areas of Muso, La Pita and Coscuez. After exploring the mile long tunnel of the La Paz mine in Coscuez, the ICA group was hosted at the Pita mine and from there an extended tour of the new emerald production areas along the Rio Minero (Mining River) and the mines of Cunas, El Totumo, and Polveros were organised with underground visits of the Pita and Consorcio mining operations, followed by an underground visit of the Mathical Muzo mine of Puerto Arturo on the next day. |
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1 ICA
President Joseph Menzie presents a computer donated to a school with Vice
President Jean Claude Michelou and ICA Ambassador Benny Bezalel. 2 Entrance of el consorcio mine. 3 View of the Rio Minero from el consorcio mine campground |
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The
visitors had several meetings with the new generation of mine owners led
by Mr. Yesid Nieto during which bases of cooperation
between ICAand the Colombian gem industry were established.
To give an auspicious beginning to a promising new relationship, the ICA
made a special donation of USD9,200 in assistance to
the schools located in Coscuez, Pita and Muzo. During
the visit at Coscuez, ICA President Joseph Menzie presented two computers
to the El Piano and El Silencio schools with the children
in attendance for the occasion. A programme is being
put together with local operators to continue with further donations. 4 Entrance of Puerto Arturo in Muzo. |
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5
Entrance to le polvero mine. 6 An " ICA miner" hits an emerald vein. 7 The one mile long Tunnel of La Paz mine at Coscuez. 8 ICA group at the heart of the Pita mine, Teresa Novellino, Michael Haag, Emmanuel Piat, Glenn Preus, Joe Menzie, William Moody. The ICA tour of Colombia led to prominent mining entrepreneurs and gem traders filing ICA membership applications thus enlarging the growing ICA active international community. |
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The
delegation was led by ICA Vice President Jean Claude Michelou together
with President Joseph Menzie and current ICA Ambassador
to Colombia Benny Bezalel. The group included ICA Board
Director Emmanuel Piat from France; ICA Ambassador to Korea Sang Phil
Oh; ICA Ambassador to Austria Bryan Pavlik; Director
of Gemmology Course Development at GIA Andrew Lucas;
President of the American Gem Lab Cap Beesley; Eric Welsh, special photographer
from GIA; Teresa Novellino from National Jeweler, USA; Jean BaptisteSenoble,
special assistant to the director of the AIGS lab from
Thailand; and ICA members Glenn Preusfrom Hawaii, and
Michael Haag from Germany, among others. |
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