Press Centre
Supernature
With vine-covered walls in gardens, and areas intentionally left to grow wild in parks, nature is reclaiming its role in the city. This is the inspiration behind a trilogy entitled “Beyond Nature” that will gradually unfold over several seasons. Nature is featured to its full, free-spirited potential, as part of an anarchy of natural colours, organic forms, and extravagant materials and textures that appeal to each of our senses.
With this trilogy, Nathalie Colin, Swarovski’s Artistic Director, aimed to recreate a surrealist world for the thoroughly urban female who still wishes to maintain a connection with nature. “With the new cellular, organic styles in architecture, the poetry of the curve replacing the straight line, and the mysterious natural creations at the forefront of contemporary art – as well as current ecological consciousness and Swarovski's long history in the mountains of the Tyrol – ‘Beyond Nature’ was an obvious direction.”
The first season belonging to the trilogy is the “Super Nature” Spring-Summer 2009 collection by Daniel Swarovski. In this collection, the designer followed the life cycle of natural elements, from their genesis to blossoming.
These ’marvels of nature’ feature unexpected curves, brand new colours, endlessly repeating motifs, cascades of crystal, and winding crystal creepers, that together form an abundant natural world. Nature becomes the language of contemporary design, and the illustration of a new femininity and sensuality. “Decorative and mysterious, the natural world enchants, surprises and brings a smile to people’s faces, with everything coming to life. From the seed to the first shoots and then the blossoming flower, we have charted and reinterpreted nature’s timeless transformations,” comments Nathalie Colin.
Anyone wearing these stunning creations will feel the lifeblood of nature running through their veins. With accelerated natural processes, all the stages of organic evolution including seeds, leaves and petals, are united in each jewellery piece, and on every handbag. Technical prowess, expertly balanced volumes and the poetry of precision are at the heart of this new collection of jewellery and accessories.
Multiple tones of green offer a surrealist beauty and become fashion’s new black, while metallic accents of a transformed city combine with splashes of fuchsia, padparadscha, and coral orange, to personify the floral creations. Shagreen, python, iguana and other natural leathers are enhanced with refined embroidery and set or pavé crystals. Bags and accessories created using Swarovski’s exclusive Pointiage® technique, incorporate a new playful optical effect where oversized crystals appear adorned by clusters of multicoloured micro crystals.
Within the collection, “Granit” is a flowery asymmetrical ring with a unique Jonquil Satin crystal that is embellished by a host of small faceted crystals clinging to its large solid silver ring. The “Galactic” ring is embraced by a silver and faceted crystal creeper, woven in by intertwining strands of opalescent green crystals. The “Geranium” ring features an oversized crystal housing an additional floating stone, and is set in pear-cut garnets. The “Grenade” ring presents a flower with enamel petals and curved tips. A piece that demonstrates Swarovski’s technical mastery, it is home to a stunning crystal featuring hints of Green, Opal and Grey crystal colours. “Glitter” is a truly exceptional necklace and combines crystal droplets, crystal pearls and petals with pavé leaves and mysterious flowers in an elegant choker. The shades of grey, beige and green that make up the piece are highlighted by small crystals in Opal and pastel tones.
Once more this season, Nathalie Colin has demonstrated her attention to the versatility of objects, and the way in which they can be transformed according to one’s desires, moods and attitude. The bag and jewellery pieces that make up the “Gooseberry” line allow for a host of different interpretations. The limited edition bag in shocking pink satin is enveloped by irregularly cut crystals in delicate shades that resemble a magical cascade of crystal droplets plunging into a bath of colour. The shoulder strap, dotted here and there with both individual and clusters of crystals, detaches from the bag and can be worn as an ultra-feminine necklace. The large matching bracelet takes the form of a flower made up of multifaceted and multicoloured points and balls.
The “Ginger” clutch is similarly versatile, and represents a two-in-one bag: long and narrow, the first clutch is in Padparadscha Crystal Mesh, while the second, more compact piece, features coral and black patent python leather, with both characterised by tone-on-tone set crystal finishing. Intrinsically associated with Daniel Swarovski, the evening bag takes the form of the limited edition “Genius” in this collection. Featuring fuchsia-tinged iguana leather printed with a snakeskin motif, it transforms into a double clutch: the asymmetric Pointiage® clasps in Fuchsia and Padparadscha crystal hide separate little purses.
Fastening on to sea-green python leather, the flap of the limited edition “Ghost” bag is entirely embroidered in blue-green crystal tones, and is home to a forest of crystal pearls imprisoned by interlinking pavé chains and branches. These wild grasses, branches, and leaf veins are also found on the pleated “Guest” bag in exceptionally dark, blue-green metallic python leather.
In this collection, Daniel Swarovski has successfully brought together the utopian elements of nature to act as the heroes of a new urban poetry. As one, they recreate a lost paradise, and offer a surrealist vision of feminine artistry.
