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CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements Trends Herald an Era of Optimism
As the world confronts the demands of the global economic situation, the trend experts at CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements predict a surge in creativity and energetic reorientations for Autumn/Winter 2010/11. Designers draw inspiration from our straitened times, entering a phase of positive thinking characterised by unexpected fusions and sparkling messages of hope.
Spring/Summer 2010 saw designers bringing ever-sharper focus to exquisite craftsmanship and quality, coupled with an openness to new design processes and previously unthought-of solutions. This season, stimulated by today’s challenging global climate, creatives are seeking to convey statements of buoyant optimism. Signalling an era of positive thinking, CRYSTALLIZED™ has named its five new trend themes OPENNESS (Harmony), ENERGY (Progressive), SERENITY (Romantic), CONTENTEDNESS (Classic) and FUN (Glamour). Crystal becomes the conduit for dazzling expressions of joy, an essential creative material with which to conjure surprising fusions of ideas, moods and forms.
OPENNESS (Harmony)
OPENNESS sees the influence of and receptiveness to foreign cultures growing ever stronger, giving rise to fascinating style blends. New, creative directions in fashion, jewellery and lifestyle elements are evolving – harmonious combinations of folkloric, traditional details and modern, more casual themes. The vibrancy of Mexican culture provides a rich source of inspiration, though interpreted in a more relaxed, natural and graphical way. Ethnic patterns and pixel-like computer graphics merge to produce innovative fabric designs and structures, seamlessly incorporating all-over crystal application. Neutral, tonal coloured CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements, such as the new Crystal Mosaic, Crystal Metallic Light Gold and Greige in small, medium and large sizes, dissolve into printed embroideries to create a camouflage effect. Cosmic Flat Back, Pendular Lochrose, XILION Pendant and Filigree innovations are combined with rich natural materials like linen, cotton and soft knits, adding to the mood of discrete, contemporary elegance.
ENERGY (Progressive)
The iPod generation seeks new values, with nature providing the perfect counterbalance to a high-tech view of the world. ENERGY embodies both time for reflection and the willingness to seize opportunities for creativity and innovation whenever they appear. As new technologies bump up against the natural world, contrasting themes emerge: cocooning and globalisation, the wild and the urban, living organisms and bionics fuse together to create heightened awareness of a new – and happier – society. Crystal offers the impetus for a creative renaissance that sees scintillating CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements such as the new Divine Rock Sew-on Stone, Crystal Mosaic and Pendular Lochrose working in harmonious combinations with wood, felt, leather, even LEDs. Neutral shades from off-white to dark grey and black are boldly accented with a mix of cold and warm tones, including new Cyclamen Opal, in a functional, yet playful celebration of beauty and individuality.
SERENITY (Romantic)
SERENITY creates space for dreams and imaginative reflections in everyday life. The look is impressionistic, drawing on the innate beauty of nature to capture a mood of luxuriant relaxation. The ideals of the Arts and Crafts movement are revisited in a lighter, fresher way through fusions of authenticity and artifice, raw earthiness and delicate interpretations of water or autumnal flowers. Small- to medium-sized CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements provide all-over sparkle, fusing with base materials of textured woolen lace, silks and tonal jacquards or creating relief effects. Bursts of energy come from opulent, colourful clusters of irregular, flower-shaped and graphic CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements, including the new Divine Rock Pendant, XILION Pear and Filigrees. A gorgeous mix of rustic and iridescent, of rainbow-hued gradings and crystal contours, adds a surreal twist to this poetic, optimistic theme.
CONTENTEDNESS (Classic)
Deep-felt satisfaction – a sense of well-balanced CONTENTEDNESS – forms the bedrock for true happiness. The mood is one of pure, sophisticated calm, punctuated by intense expressions of child-like joy. Plain white and grey fabrics are given exuberant splashes of glittering colour; smooth, glinting materials and delicate stretch fabrics offer an elegant, flowing backdrop for artistic statements of unconstrained elation. Accumulations of small crystals and pearls in pure whitish tones, such as the new Mosaic White Opal, create a regular planar base. Medium-sized CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements add to the tableau, with large green crystals such as the Divine Rock Flat Fancy Stone and Navette Pendant providing a refulgent finishing touch.
FUN (Glamour)
Understated, dressed-down style gives way to a more extravagant haute couture-inspired mood in FUN. Glamour spices up everyday life, recalling the age of five o’clock teas, cocktail hours and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Underscored by a touch of the scurrilous, the look is out of the ordinary, with crystal used for rich all-over applications on fabrics such as organza, mousseline, tulle, taffeta, silk and satin. Silhouettes are a gorgeous blend of cheek and charm: a combination of classic and asymmetric CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements, including large-sized Divine Rock Sew-on Stones, Pendular Lochrosen, Crystal Coral Pearls, XILION Pendants and Fish Pendants, add a playful touch to long evening gowns and cocktail dresses. Poppy-bright colours with near neon accents are underlined by jet black, bringing elegance and depth to this feel-good theme.
Upcoming talent Andy Farrow interprets new CRYSTALLIZED™ trends
London-based jewellery designer Andy Farrow takes inspiration from the five Autumn/Winter 2010/11 CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements trend directions to fashion his own glittering interpretation of each theme. Farrow graduated in graphic design and began working for Erickson Beamon in 2003, before setting up under his own name in 2007. He has collaborated with Anna Sui, Oscar de la Renta, Donna Karan and Vivienne Westwood amongst others. His bold yet intricate pieces combining textured metal with detailed crystal work have featured in fashion magazines such as Vogue, Tatler and Elle UK. Farrow’s passion for conjuring beautiful, dynamic fusions of material, colour and form makes him the ideal creative partner to interpret the new season’s trend towards energy and optimism.
