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Crystal loves Leather
Leading designers from renowned fashion brands and up-and-coming avant-garde designers have been inspired by the brilliance of CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements and by two brand new methods of applying crystals onto the finest smooth leather. The result is a true romance: Crystal loves Leather. The exciting results were displayed recently in Paris at an exhibition in the Palais du Louvre as part of the Première Classe Fair as well as in the inspiring ambiance of the Fashion Museum in Antwerp, Belgium.
With fine leather and CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements, as the catalysts of creation, the participating designers rose to the challenge with an extraordinary explosion of creativity. The avant-garde designers let their fantasies run free and created startling objects such as a glittering bunny mask and a hat that doubles as a handbag. Commercial accessories creations include beautiful handbags, belts and other quality leather accessories and perfectly reflect chic design that focuses on the unification of the two noble materials.
Avant-garde designers let fantasy run free with unique exhibition pieces
Designers whose inspiration was ignited by CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements for the Crystal loves Leather – avant-garde initiative include: Monica Botkier, Yukiko Ohno, Federica Moretti, Patricia Clay, Christian Anton J. Wenger, Valérie Uckermann, Sabrina Dehoff, Nathalie Colin-Roblique, Boris Bidjan Saberi, Isabelle Bordji, Luís Onofre, Laura Strambi, Valérie Saїd, Gaspard Yurkievich, Valérie Dassa, Mayu Okamatsu, Banu Erkin, Ann & Björn Gärdsby, Bernd Michael Ostwald, Adam Entwisle, Spastor and Gori de Palma.
Meanwhile, renowned and talented avant-garde designers speak warmly about the inspirational power of CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements, saying:
"Crystal and leather are something for the senses - you have to touch and feel..."
Valérie Dassa - Valérie Valentine, France
"Leather and crystal are two elegant materials: They seem to blend beautifully together and then personality emerges."
Valérie Uckermann - Escada, Germany
"Extraordinary fusion of CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements and leather - heavenly romance makes our creation PERFECT"
Yukiko Ohno - Malcom Guerre, Japan
Inspirational desire to design
Swarovski’s interest in working with leading accessories designers underlines the company’s commitment to forge creative bonds with the world’s most inspired designers. To extend the possibilities of uniting fine leather and CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements, Swarovski application experts came up with two entirely new methods of applying crystals onto smooth leather. The “Chaton Leather” technique fixes Diamond Transfers in leather by setting the crystal elements into pre-punched leather. The “Flat Back Leather” technique fixes XILION Transfers onto smooth leather and is based on a specifically developed application and stitching technique.
Designers include Crystal loves Leather accessories in collections
International designers like Stuart Weitzman, Escada, Coccinelle, Loewe, Kaviar Gauche, Hugo Boss and Michael Teperson were truly inspired by the Crystal loves Leather initiative. They produced fabulous leather accessories ranging from bags, shoes, belts, jackets and hats right down to small leather items made with CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements and integrated them into their upcoming collections. The results are guaranteed to spark emotion and delight when they enter the stores for the new season Autumn/Winter 2008.
The pursuit of creative cooperation that leads to new and exciting applications for crystal has been a hallmark of the company policy since it was first founded 112 years ago and has now spread across the entire spectrum of the world of top design.
