Just a brief apology for not having published this feature last week, as promised in this Sunday Serving.
I'm constantly on the look out for British based designers that are offering something unique ~ something that I feel might appeal to readers of Love My Dress. When it comes to jewellery designers, I'm usually drawn to those that work with original vintage pieces, like the fabulous Magpie Vintage for example, who source original items from all over the world, re-working them in to modern day pieces full of vintage appeal. I was pleasantly surprised then to have discovered Jo Thorne, as her designs represents something truly more contemporary in their nature…
"Although I was taught the intricacies of fine jewellery making at college, I left my degree course creating large sculptures, woven in metal. After working for a number of jewellery brands and fashion designers, I found myself employed by a wedding dress designer.
I was horrified to see her beautiful couture dresses ruined by the hideous bead and wire headpieces that her clients brought to the studio. Tiaras that looked like they were made by hobbyists were selling in Harrods for £400.00!"
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Imagery Copyright (c) 2010, Jo Thorne
"Every setting and motif is our own original design. I have a workshop and studio in east London where I design and make the collections. The pieces are made in sterling silver, using the traditional tools and methods of the jeweller. We use recycled sterling silver wherever possible, and our gems are ethically sourced. Each piece is also a registered design, meaning it cannot be copied by anyone else."
Who are you and what do you do?…"My name is Jo Thorne, and I'm the chief designer and owner of a bridal jewellery brand that I run with my partner Michael Parfitt. He is a graphic designer, and he's responsible for the branding, graphics, and web design for the company, as well as art directing our fashion shoots."
"After much research, I realised there was a very limited choice of hair adornment for design-conscious brides. At this point in time, there was nothing that you could call designer hair jewellery. When I began working on my first prototype designs, I found I really liked the scale of hair accessories and tiaras. In a strange kind of way, there was a logical progression from the sculptural work I'd been doing at college, and coupled with my experience in the wedding industry, it was kind of a perfect storm. So in 2002, after quite a long period of product development, I finally took the plunge and founded Jo Thorne."
The designer herself at work in her studio…
"I knew I wanted to work in precious metal, and the obvious choice was sterling silver. As well as its intrinsic value and feeling of preciousness, silver can be arguably the most beautiful of the precious metals. A tendency to oxidise gives it an antique feel, and if used subtly this can create the most extraordinary mood. I didn't set out consciously to design vintage pieces, but I had clearly absorbed influences which then naturally came out in my work.
"When I started out in the wedding industry, there was no fashion for vintage, but around the same time dress designers like Jenny Packham and Temperley began producing vintage-inspired collections. Also at this time, we did a fashion shoot influenced by classic portraits of Hollywood stars – the most recognisable of these is on our homepage. The bridal fashion magazines picked up on the trend, and suddenly vintage and vintage-inspired collections began appearing everywhere. But I've always maintained that my designs are contemporary, and I'm keen to make that distinction."
"In general, I think the vintage trend has moved bridal design forward in a hugely positive way, and in recent years we've really seen wedding fashion mature as a design discipline in itself. From here, I think we're going to see a deepening of style-awareness and confidence, both in brides and designers, as the line between wedding fashion and designer culture becomes ever more blurred. There will always be some distinction I think, but we're already witnessing the cross-fertilisation of red carpet and bridal. As a brand, this is very much where we place ourselves in the equation, and future collections will have even more of a crossover focus."
One of Jo's assistant's at work in the studio…
Qualified or self-taught?…."I'm a qualified jeweller and silversmith. I graduated in 1990 from London Metropolitan University (then Sir John Cass School of Art) with a degree in Jewellery and Silversmithing Design and Manufacturing."
Where do you seek your design inspiration?…"My inspiration comes from many sources, in particular the art deco and nouveau movements, and even modernist architecture. To name a few favourite designers and inspirations; René Lalique, The Bauhaus, Le Corbusier, Dieter Rams, Cartier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Clarice Cliff, Coco Chanel and Christian Dior. My central idea when I founded the company was to revive the hair accessory as a classic statement of glamour, echoing the grace and elegance of a previous age, but in a thoroughly modern context."
How would you describe your signature style?…"Modern classics. My aim is to evoke a sense of timelessness while creating something new, and to make pieces that have that heritage of bespoke craftsmanship, something you can keep and wear forever. I guess ultimately my dream would be to produce definitive design classics. I'm not there yet!"
Do you have a muse/or particular type of client in mind when designing?…"I don't have anyone specific in mind when designing, but I have a certain kind of woman. The deco splendour of New York City and the style of its women is something I think about a lot. I think about Bergdorf Goodman, Barney's, and Saks Fifth Avenue. And then I guess there are classic Hollywood style icons like Grace Kelly, Katherine Hepburn and Lauren Bacall."
Do you offer a bespoke service?…"We offer three services: bespoke commissions, made to order, and a wholesale range."
Beautiful designs aren't they? Jo Thorne prices range from £45.00 for a simple stud earring to £895.00 for a necklace of pearls set in Argentium sterling silver. Buyers can book to view Jo Thorne at the upcoming White Gallery exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery. Brides to be and others can look forward to seeing Jo Thorne on exhibition at the Designer Wedding Show in October. However, if you can't wait that long, you could always book a ticket for Jo's inaugural studio event on 6th March 2010…
"It's going to be a relaxed day, and we always have great fun – champagne and canapés, expert advice, guest designers Sev Hubert and Emmy shoes, plus generous discounts for attendees!"
Visit the Jo Thorne website for further details.
♥
Annabel View all Annabel's articles
Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.
