SUSTAINABLE STORIES
Swedish jewellery designer Mia Larsson is the latest creative to collaborate with & Other Stories.
The starting point for this collection was my view on sustainability. I had a first meeting with the & Other Stories team in my studio to see if we could make it work, keeping the craft and sustainable concept. They really listened to my views and cared about all the details involved in the process – from the making of the jewellery and packaging to the campaign itself. It was a very fun, fluid and open process. Alongside my collab collection, & Other Stories’ designers did a sustainable capsule collection, which was very exciting for me. I began using shells to make jewellery while looking for a sustainable, organic material that was decomposable for my master’s degree. I thought of mussels and oysters because they’re such beautiful materials and part of such a positive cycle – food, good nutrition, meals and festivities which bring people together and then provide beautiful waste with which to make jewellery. I always had a fascination for ocean materials materials.
My family had a summer house in Skåne by the ocean of Kattegat. Even before I could swim, I loved to be under the surface. I could swim for hours and always had blue lips and constant pain in my ears! My family has always been fascinated by the ocean too. My father built small ships for us, my brother drew boats all the time and even became a sailor for a time, while my uncle made beautiful sketches of old English ships that we hung on our walls. I think jewellery is unique in its ability to express relationships, link people in love, tie together generations, friendships, beliefs, ideas and subcultures. It’s one of the oldest artefacts and signs of expression. Since way back, jewellery has been created from organic materials and used to protect and strengthen us in the form of amulets and talismans.
I love all the pieces in this collection, but I’m especially proud of the hair clip. This is the first time I’ve made one. The ring is a strong signature piece, and I can see it becoming a special occasion piece. I can’t wait for my jewellery to find new homes.
Mia Larsson x & Other Stories launches May 21.
“I feel jewellery is unique in its ability to express-relationships to and link people in love.”