CRYSTAL CLEAR
Not all that glitters is gold (or diamonds, even), especially if jeweler Daniel Swarovski has anything to say about it. “Diamonds are for royalty,” he once said. “I want to create a diamond for every woman.” And with the introduction of a crystal-cutting machine in 1895, the Swarovski founder proved that he could walk the talk, as his invention started a new era for his material of choice, marking crystal’s resurgence in jewelry, the arts and even high fashion.
From serving as design inspirations to French couturiers Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli in the 1900s and the debut of the “Aurora Borealis” (crystals with specially coated surfaces that allowed them to transform from one color to another) in Christian Dior dresses during the late 1950s to the pioneering of a bespoke crystal mesh fabric first used by Vivienne Westwood in the 1990s, Swarovski’s relationship with fashion is one that constantly grows in beauty and creativity. Over a century later and Swarovski’s vision still shines, with their renowned precision-cut crystal now more accessible and innovative than ever. And to celebrate more than 120 years in the industry, the Austria-born label recently held a regional event for Southeast Asia, aptly themed “Brilliance for All.”
Held at the W Hotel and The House on Sathorn (a stunning 128-year-old colonial mansion and Thai national heritage home) in Bangkok, the event showcased Swarovski’s storied heritage via a curated exhibit that featured historical milestones, notable Atelier Swarovski collaborations, Hollywood-inspired video campaigns, and of course, their latest fall/winter 2017 collection. With shimmering Swarovski-embellished couture looks from Paris Fashion Week displayed side by side with five key families from the commercial collection, creative director Nathalie Colin explains that their fall offerings — dubbed “Urban Fantasy” — took inspiration from a modern woman’s day-to-night journey through dazzling cities.
The night culminated in a runway show that highlighted one of the global jewelry brand’s most exciting offerings: the Swarovski Remix Collection. Divided into four categories — Romantic, Timeless, Rock Chic and Glam — the Remix Collection is made for, well, mixing. With each jewelry piece containing invisible magnetic closures, strands can be combined or layered to create multiple bespoke looks. “I have always been a strong advocate of personal styles so the new concept is one of my favorites with its endless mix of possibilities,” Colin points out. “Accessories are great ways to customize one’s look, helping women to be noticed for their outstanding styles.” Now, mixing and matching your favorite adornments can be done in a snap, literally. Ingenious? Yes. Brilliant? Absolutely.
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Swarovski is available in Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La, Rustan’s Alabang Town Center, and Rustan’s Ayala Cebu. Swarovski is also available through boutiques owned and operated by Stores Specialists, Inc. located at Newport Mall, Robinson’s Magnolia and Estancia Mall.