Swarovski has teamed up with several fashion heavyweights to design the new Swarovski Atelier 2010 collection. Among the participants include jewellery design duo Anthony Carmago & Nak Armstrong, footwear maven Nicholas Kirkwood, British fashion maverick Matthew Williamson and First Lady favourite (and Canadian-raised) Jason Wu. The collections overall are filled with strong statement pieces meant to inspire and emulate four very different corners of the fashion world. Kirkwood’s pieces (much like his own brand) are structural and functional, designed in metal, leather and crystal pavé that can be effortlessly paired with a variety of looks. Williamson, however, is bold and bright, using the crystals to reconstruct geometric shapes in signature prints from his Spring/Summer 2010 runway collection. Anthony Nak is the most daring, yet traditional, of the collection, with gothic architecture as a key source inspiring the grandiose feel of statement necklaces with floating pendants and tear-shaped crystals. “For Spring 2010, I have teamed up with Nadja Swarovski and Atelier Swarovski to create a collection of jewellery that exhibits the same texture and sculptural details seen in my work,” says Wu, who also brings his A-game with using the cluster technique to group crystal beads and employs layers of faceted crystals to create a textured, defined silhouette. “The pieces are a study in contrast, with exposed chainmail and burnished metal alongside delicate crystals.”
