New York-based jeweller Alexis Bittar is celebrating regaining control of his eponymous jewellery brand with an exuberant new collection that revels in oversized proportions and bold design accents.
Jewellery plays on offbeat forms; earrings wind around the earlobe or graze the shoulders, while ribbons of gold coil around the neck. Surreal silhouettes are celebrated in crystal-embellished face masks or glistening spiders that crawl around the wrist in an encapsulation of Bittar’s ‘classic craftsmanship with a futuristic vision’ aesthetic
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‘I am always a fan of blending multiple reference points – for this season, I loved the combination of the glamour of the New York disco scene in the 1980s and the punk scene,’ says Bittar of his cultural references. ‘And I’m always interested in melding that into the concept of futurism.’
A seductive juxtaposition of materials lends a sensuality to Bittar’s jewellery, with the pastel hues of lucite a playful foil for the gleaming ripples of gold. ‘Lucite is my first love, but liquid gold has always been part of my design handwriting,’ Bittar adds. ‘Fusing that with leather (in my new handbag collection) was a completely new direction for me. I love the new angular oversized clutch, it has a tinge of Debbie Harry and reminds me of the disco parties at Maxim's in the 1980s.’
The joyful collection marks the designer's return to the helm of his company. ‘Even though I have been designing for 30 years, I had a six-year hiatus from the business (and in that time I had two children). When I re-entered and bought the business back, it was an incredibly fluid process – the only “challenge” has been to make sure I am at home at 6pm to feed the kids.’
INFORMATION
alexisbittar.com
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