Lindsay Wills

Cape Town born and bred, Lindsay Wills attended high school at Springfield convent and finished in 2005. Throughout high school she has always shown a passion for art. Her passion for jewelry begun and developed in 2006, when she did a part time course at Ruth Prowse. That was when she decided to make career out her passion and applied for a full-time course. She is currently a 3^rd year student at Cape Peninsula University of Technology studying jewelry design and manufacture.

She has always enjoyed art and design, and during her time at Cape Peninsula University of Technology she got to explore and develop her own style of design. She does not follow a specific design philosophy. However she believes that form, function and proportion is very important to make a design wearable as well as aesthetically pleasing.

Her personal designs have a strong architectural theme.  Living in Cape Town, surrounded by many different types of architecture she draws in many different types of architecture from Cape Dutch, Cape Malay to the new developments that were built for the World Cup Soccer 2010. She not only sticks to local architecture but also is inspired by many different architects worldwide.  She likes structural lines with a twist of flair. She likes to manipulate structure by playing with the falling of light and shadow to make the structures more interesting.  She likes to use a body of images that inspire her and extract structures, objects and patterns out of the images to add and relate to jewelry. She likes to use opposites in her jewelry, structural verses organic, even if subtle, as it brings in another facet of design into the jewelry. She believes that, although the jewelry she designs is very architectural and structural looking, it must still be chic, elegant, attractive and beautiful.  

She demonstrates this beautifully in this pendant. It is bold and geometric, but has a femininity about it. These are three of the pieces she manufactured bassed on her Architecture inspired theme for her third year.

Her influences are jewelers such as Peter Eisenman, Richard Meier, Allesandro Mendini and Paola Portoghesi. These jewellers also use Architecture as there inspiration.

Lindsay Wills aims to become a well known jeweller and designer in South Africa, that not only produces art jewellery, but also very wearable every day pieces that are unique. Through her jewellery she would like to inspire others to take pride in there architectural heritage. She aspires to manufacture timeless pieces that would one day become part of her clients heritage and would past down to the following generations.

 This ring box, she made in 2010, is a perfect example of how timeless her designs are. This is not only a beautifull design, but it is also well constructed.

To achieve her goals, marketing would have to play a very big role. Lindsay plans to market herself through blogging, social networking such as Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. She would like to exhibit a body of work once a year collaborating with other artists and jewelry designers. She is also planning on having a stall at Design Indaba 2012, collaborating with another jewelry designer.

She likes her jewelry to be dominantly precious metal, with other materials complimenting the designs. These materials consist African Blackwood, Purple Heart, Perspex, resin and enamel. These material would be used to complement the metal, and add dimention to her collections. In the future she would like to venture into more exciting materials such as material and incorporate objects such as coins, plastic toys; sand and random found objects that look like it could make a beautiful piece of jewelry.

She has covered a range of techniques from repousse to casting in her diploma from CPUT. She likes the feeling of jewelry being handmade and precious. Most of her work involves piercing, bending of metal, fitting of parts and soldering. She likes to use textures such as a rough sandpaper, matt look-by using platinum paper but doesn’t like the look of sandblasting.  She strives for neatness in her work. These are some examples of techniques that she used in the past.

Lindsay Wills is a determined and hardworking student and I’m certain that she would maintain this excellent work ethic throughout her carreer. I am certain that she will be very successful and have a long lived carreer in the jewelry design industry.

Errol Arendz

Errol Arendz

"Multi award-winning couturier Errol Arendz is renowned for his intrinsic understanding of glamour, style, finesse and sensual fashion. These are the qualities Errol has brought to his exclusive shoe collection - each shoe is a statement on its own and no longer a mere accessory to an outfit."

http://www.queueshoes.co.za/brands/errol+arendz/default.aspx

Errol studied at the Fashion Academy in Johannesberg, where he graduated with top honors in 1973. He then went and furthered his studies overseas as well as worked in Paris and London in the 70's. He spent his time abroad learning and absorbing as much as possible about the cutting-edge world of fashion.

His extreme hard work and dedication to his craft is what drew the worlds attention. He made clothes with the classic styling of the Paris world of couture, while still drawing inspiration from his African roots. Errol became a sensation in South Africa when Fair Lady magazine featured the haut-socialite Barbara Barnard wearing his first collection. Unfortunately I could not find this iconic and career-making photo.

Since that moment Errol has turned his personal style into a brand that can not be competed with.The hard work and determination never stopped it only grew larger. Two decades of winning some of the most coveted fashion awards worldwide were topped in 2005 when he was bestowed with the Fair Lady Lifetime Achievement Award.

Errol Arendz the company is based in Cape Town. Along with co-director, Casper Badenhorst, Errol continues to be an active part of the company. He is continually involved in every aspect of the business; from the detailed research and skilled choice of materials and the continuous designing and redesigning of all styles, to production, interaction with stockiest and personal service to clients. As a result, Errol Arendz retains a personal touch often lost in companies of this nature. This is an element of him that I personally think makes him such a successful designer in South Africa and the world. That personal touch is where the value lies in this highly competitive world. Young aspiring designers such as myself can learn a lot from him, not only as designer but as business man as well.

The company is divided into three stores each with its own little specialty:

Errol Arendz Studio:
This is where he works on appointment only. He blends his personal style with the style of his client, to create one-of-a-kind couture clothing.

DuSud:
I sthe store where you will find affordable luxury items. He makes couture availeble to the masses. This store is for the woman that wants to noticed.

The Errol Arendz Cape Town Collection:

The store I favour most, just for his amazing shoe collection. This is also the store where you wil find that perfecr little black dress.

The mission of Errol Arendz is to represent the European pulse of fashion, combined with elements from Africa, in the design, marketing and delivering of a complete lifestyle experience to a global customer. He designs for everyone wanting to be fashionable. He applies the highest standards of quality, integrity, and innovation to his designs, steadily focusing on the demands of the ever changing fashion and customer. The Errol Arendz collections are created to appeal to women's senses on every level. His compony was founded on the basis that he understands what fashionable women want and desire. His exclusive collections are designed to portry luxury, sensuality, comfort and creative expression.

Errol Arendz is an extremely busy man. While being involved in all aspects of his business he still manages to keep his celebrity clients such as Priscilla Presley, Joan Collins, Shakira Caine, Joanna Lumley, Sharon Stone and Jaclyn Smith very happy. His regular South African clients include Evita de Klerk, Pam Golding and Karen Barnard.

These are some of my favourite pieces of his over the last two years. These designs represent the stylish 20' something woman of Cape Town. I would love to own evry single piece.

Not only is Errol Ardenz a fantastic designer, but he also knows about comfort and style. He resently redesigned the shoes and uniforms for the South African Airways cabin crew and ground staff. 

Errol Arendz Shoes

 

Errol Arendz has become an international figure known for his ability to combine pizzazz, finesse and chic in his couture clothing, and then came the shoes. Personally this is my favorite aspect of this world renowned designer. His dresses and cloths are beautiful, but it cannot compare with his shoes.

The shoes are meant to be fun and bring out some personality as well as make a statement about who you are. The Errol Arendz collections are vibrant, exciting and for those who cannot express themselves with clothes you could express yourself with shoes and I am one of those people.

On the comfort side, extra padding is added on to the shoes where the ball of the foot would fit to ensure the shoes are comfortable and it also aids in giving extra support. I own a few pairs of his amazing shoes and I can definitely say that they are comfortable. Whatever the occasion.

The quality of Errol Arendz shoes is as great as any international designer if not better. He uses only the best leather and silk for these exceptional creations, and they are very well priced.

The thing about Errol Arendz that intrigues me most is that no task is ever too big or to small for him. With all his success he still stays a grounded man, true to his roots. "The South African market is open to anything, it’s whether you dare to put it out there." Errol Arendz 

References:

www.errolarendz.co.za/biography.php

www.lqp.co.za/eventinfo/bio

www.hautefashionafrica.com/tag/errol-arendz/

www.popyacollar.co.za/.../2011-joburg-fashion-week-errol-arendz/

Saya Hibino

Saya Hibino is a young jewellery designer from Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan. She was born into a very traditional family, that has been in the Kimono bussiness for many generations. Saya Hibino gained appreciation for the artistic world from an early age. She agknowledged the unique one of a kind designs and creations produced by her family in the form of rooms full of patterned silk. As a teenager she started develope her passion for art through photographing and drawing the life she observed. In Kyoto she was surrounded by Geishas, tea houses,temples and people. Those images still remain in her head and translates into the imperial elegance of her jewellery.

 

After school she went off to New York where she graduated from the Fashion Institute of technology. Her time studying was when she really discovered her artistic side and spent her time refining her jewellery making skills and paying careful attention to textures and materials.

She gets inspirations from textile designs such as antique laces and silks. She then transfers the patterns and textures of the lace into metal and creates pieces that would complement the female body’s natural elegance.As you can see in the neckpiece and rings above, she really mastered the art or recreating lace in metal. A soft elegant feel with a very constrickting material.

Growing up in an artistic family inspired Saya to express her creativity as well as draw from daily life to become inspired. Her design philosophy is based on her traditional up brining in Japan. It is minimalistic, soft and flowing, almost silk like. She designs jewellery that will highlight the elegance of a women’s figure to its full potential and beauty. The principle concerns around Saya’s designs it to create a flowing and soft designs. She attempts to bridge the gap between metal end silk. To Saya the combination of lace and metal is a direct comparison of the modern women: strong and delicate. She doesn't confide to trends, she twists them to suit her. Like these pearl earrings. She took the punk trend and made it her own.

Even though her business is based in New York she still lives in Japan and is still influenced by her childhood. She is close to mother nature Saya carries the memories of her home with her and uses it to inspire her life as a jewellery designer.

Saya uses 18K gold and silver to design jewellery items, including gorgeous crown rings, elegant necklaces and stunning mesh earrings. Before launching her collection, she perfected the art of wax carving. Most of her designs are hand carved and then cast. The result is exquisitely executed jewellery pieces. She tends to fuss over small details which makes her pieces perfectly manufactured.

She markets herself through her website and also through her stockists. The long list of stores in New York And Tokyo that stock her beautiful designs market her through their websites and blogs. All of her jewellery can be puchused online through her stockist blogs. She is also very well marketed through some of the most famous fashion magazines. She is featured on a regular basis in trendy magazines such as Vogue, Lucky, Marie Claire and sleek. She is also involved in charity work. She is part of on organisation called Rings of love for Japan.

Saya’s work is inspiring to me. I love the way she turns fashion trends into her personal style by softing it. For example her spike pearl earrings. It brings me back to how i like to take vintage designs and make it modern. Saya’s unique range is meant for the modern woman of today, who is delicate, sensible, independent and strong, and thus fits with her lifestyle and this is what I’m wanting to achive with my pieces this year.

Design Diary

I am completely addicted to to shoes. Here is a few favourites from Manolo Blanik's 2011 collection.

Infecting the city

Infecting the city is a greate concept. Not only does it create exposure for artists of every medium, but it also creates new art viewers. Infecting the city brought art to everyone. It gave me something to think about when it comes to design.
I found the whole experience inspiring and fun.