VICTORIA ARCHER spring 2008

In April 2008 British designer Victoria Archer has launched her third jewellery collection exclusively at the Londoner jewellery store Kabiri; you can visit the store off- as well as on-line.

"My philosophy is one of individuality – all the earrings are sold as singles giving the costumer final choice of how they will wear the items, and each item of jewellery is handcrafted and not an exact copy of the previous piece."

Q: Your collections are inspired by literature. Is the spindle such as on this Spindle Chain inspired by a fairy tale – thinking of “Sleeping Beauty” by Brothers Grimm or another literature theme?

Victoria: "I do love fairy tales – especially Brothers Grimm – but this collection is not directly related. But I suppose this inspiration would run through all my designs. I like the dark romanticism of these stories. A macabre innocence.

Ideas for this collection were sparked by Murakami’s ‘Dance Dance Dance’ and his ‘Wind Up Bird Chronicles’. I am inspired by Murakami’s writing style, and the threads that run through his novels about time, choice, and passing relationships."

Q: Why do you use a spindle in your jewellery? What’s the idea behind?

Victoria: "The spindle and the cogs are inspired by watch movements. I am fascinated with mechanical movements and our obsession with time.

I have cast original movements in silver and gold then rework them so each piece is unique in their own way. I strive for designs that resemble the one before but have their own qualities- the chain may be different, the size or the material. I like to think each piece has my own thumb print so to speak."

Q: You say you are inspired by philosophers; which philosopher is the most important for you and why does she/he inspire your work?
 
Victoria: "I would say Plato’s Allegory of the cave has inspired my work since first reading it about 10 years ago!"

Check out Victoria Archer's full collection > www.kabiri.co.uk

more design>>>

London-based Victoria Archer graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in 2004 with a BA in Jewellery Design. Her collections have already featured in world wide press including ElleUK.com and Japanese Vogue. Her large-scale work can be seen in the book 'New Directions in Jewellery', by Black Dog Publishing.

Kabiri: founded in June 2004 by Nathalie Kabiri, brings together a unique selection of jewellery designers; some of them are previously unseen. In early 2005 Kabiri opened the online store to make the Londoner selection accessible for a global audience. In the meanwhile Kabiri itself becomes as a cultural phenomenon cult: recently graphic designer Sinem Erkas has designed the book ‘The many Faces of Kabiri’.