What do you get when you combine nanotechnology, engineering and art?
An exceptional blend of craft and wonder, quality and magic – a unique collection of jewellery that interacts with its wearer.
Suvi Ellilä and James Cole, the couple behind The Contrast Club met during theirmechanical engineering studies in the UK. After years of working in traditionalengineering and various artistic projects they combined their knowledge and creativity to develop The Contrast Club. This family-run design company merges the worlds of jewellery and engineering. Ellilä designs the jewellery while Cole oversees the technical design and engineering innovation. They collaborate with Finnish goldsmiths and the jewellery is meticulously crafted in Finland using high-end materials.
“We're so excited to introduce our first interactive jewellery collection, Lepidoptera, inspired by butterflies and moths. What sets it apart is that while many jewellery pieces are inspired by the appearance of butterflies, we go much deeper. Thanks to the interactive nature of our designs, we can capture aspects of the creatures' actual behaviour – something traditional jewellery can't achieve," Ellilä explains. The Lepidoptera Collection features three items: a Moth Ring that delicately flutters, Caterpillar Earrings that gracefully curl, and a bracelet that wraps and shifts.
Although nature is important to Suvi, it’s far from her only source of inspiration. “With each collection, I aim to tell a different story and push the boundaries of physics. I want to explore how much life can be infused to an object through stored energy and how, for example, chemical reactions can add new layers of storytelling. The Contrast Club was created for people who are inspired by magic and the unexpected, which gives us the freedom to experiment and play,” she continues.
In the future The Contrast Club plans to apply these new techniques and technologies to other areas of personal luxury goods.
“To create dynamic movements we need to introduce new manufacturing technology to the traditional jewellery industry. For example, innovations in the watchmaking allow us to craft tiny, intricate mechanisms that can be used to tell stories. Tradition is very important to us. We're not trying to change how jewellery is made but to add a new layer of wonder to delight our customers,” says Cole.
The Contrast Club will present their Lepidoptera collection at Milano Jewelry Week from the 17th to 20th of October.
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