The multifaceted woman
OVER the decades, women have shown great strength and courage in meeting everyday challenges, and much like today’s multihyphenated women who accomplish everything they do with decisive confidence, the movement of female empowerment is becoming increasingly loud and apparent.
Amira Yahya and Foo Chia Chern of fine jewellery label The Straits Finery observed the many versatile and independent minds that are written all over history, and felt it was important to recognise these women for their achievements.
Surely no woman is a certain kind; she is a daughter to her mother, a wife to her husband, a mother to her child, and a sister to her siblings, while at the same time juggling her many vocations, thus she is many things. She has passions, she has interests, she has success, but also failures.
Undeniably, a woman has so much to do, that the pieces of jewellery she wears need to fit into her lifestyle.
Celebrating Woman at her best, The Straits Finery released a new collection named after, and inspired by, the cultural icon of World War II, Rosie The Riveter. She was the start of a patriotic campaign, or rather a piece of motivational propaganda aimed at encouraging women to make tangible contributions in factories while the menfolk were fighting in the trenches. Rosie became a symbol of feminism in contemporary culture, and inspired several social movements for women. She represents the realisation that women can do, and be, anything. The theme is reflected in the new collection by taking influence from the Art Deco era, essentially a pastiche of various styles, but sharing the desire to be modern. Its principles are all about streamlining forms following function, with decadent jewellery pieces made of 14-karat solid gold and sterling silver spanning across three distinctive chapters.
Each piece explores the theme of courage, feminity and tenacity within a woman that makes her the person she is.
The designs in each chapter allow the wearer to combine the individual pieces in order to craft her own story. Featuring minimalist yet elegant designs coupled with impeccable craftsmanship, the first chapter of the Rosie The Riveter collection may look simple, but speaks volumes.
Style is expressed in bold geometric forms of Cubism, or rather Art Moderne, and in the more linear designs with hard edges. This can be seen in pieces such as the Box ring, which is crafted with a masculine undertone to encourage a woman to discover a tougher side of herself.
Chapter two encourages women to find strength in femininity, and recognises that vulnerability is just a part of human nature. The diamond shape is prevalent in the designs of this chapter, showing a feminine visage in contrast with chapter one’s strong edges.
The final chapter of the collection concludes the characterisation of a woman’s mettle, depicting how confidence and self-assurance are the main driving force behind every woman’s accomplishments.
Starting with the first chapter, the Rosie The Riveter collection will progressively be made available online at The Straits Finery website, and in-store at Snackfood, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur from July 30 onwards.