CHRIS DAVIES
Inspired by Haute Couture’s finest techniques comes an enchanting collection with deep aesthetic and metaphysical purpose: jewelry for body and soul.
From the beginning, Chris Davies’ approach to design has been intellectual as well as technical, inspired and informed by the knowledge he has acquired in different fields. A Vassar alumnus and Parsons graduate, the Los Angeles-born designer fuses haute couture dressmaking with goldsmithing techniques to create one-of-a-kind statement pieces. Davies has built a cross-disciplinary studio practice with a distinctive visual language that is immediately recognizable. At once ancient and modern, his designs have a sculptural presence that elevates the work beyond fashion. Known for his innovative approach to jewelry making, Chris has developed the “woven granulation” technique, a fascinating and complex process, inspired by cloth weaving, where myriads of tiny gold spheres are literally woven into supple floating patterns… The result is a tour de force of skill and creativity.
For The Protagonist, Chris Davies presents the fantastic “Two Breaths” brooch entirely “hand-woven” in 18K gold, inspired by the Hawaiian Creation Chant. Chris Davies jewels are ethically and sustainably sourced, using all recycled 18K gold as well as conflict free diamonds, reclaimed stones and repurposed antique and vintage elements. Most importantly to the designer, the pieces are made locally by hand in his New York studio. Davies fabricates his work alongside a small and dedicated in-house team: “The couture atelier is a model of ethical and sustainable practice and this is how we make our jewelry,” says Davies. “We work together, we eat together and we labor lovingly over these pieces for months at a time. This is not about mass output or fast fashion. This is about nourishing the human spirit, both for the makers and the collector.”