Re:cycle is a range of gorgeous jewellery made by UK-based artist/photographer/designer, Emma Ware. The result is certainly far from its humble material which is recycled rubber that Emma fashioned into a series of sculptural neckpieces, earrings and wristbands. Huge thanks to Emma for the wonderful pics!
Recently, Emma took time to answer a few questions on her background and shared some thoughts on what inspired her to create Re:cycle.
You have such a varied background from broadcasting to painting. What inspired you dabble in jewellery?
Jewellery for me is as much about shape, form and colour as is painting or film making, just applied differently. It’s sculpture you can wear which kind of makes it more accessible and everyday than fine art can be.
My mum gave me a starter jewellery making kit when I was little and I’ve always come back to it at random times in my life. This time I really enjoyed the sitting and creating beautiful things in contrast to running around for hours with a camera. I decided to see if I could make a living from it and I’m quite overwhelmed by the response!
Could you tell me more about Re:cycle? How did you to come up with the designs, and what types of process are involved in the making of it?
My friend had a puncture one day, seeing potential in the rubber ring I had a go at chopping it up and immediately felt I was onto something. I slice them up, stitch them together and/or thread them onto chain. Often I try to reproduce a design and end up getting side tracked finding a beautiful form I just can’t lose and end up with a new design. I have a lot of random ‘shapes’ hanging around that are waiting for their moment! It’s very much about following a process, I tend not to come up with a design then make it. I go with the shapes the tubes want to make and work out how to make it complement the human form.
I originally started making jewellery from old broken jewellery, toys, feathers, bottle tops. It was always about using materials that already existed, it doesn’t make much sense to me economically or ecologically to manufacture new materials when so much is out there already. It also changes the design process being restricted by a material. I’m constantly on the lookout for new ‘waste’ materials to use.
I know that your jewellery is currently in stock in the UK, do you plan to sell in the US or whether you have stockists here?
I’d love to branch out to the US but don’t have any stockists there yet. It’s a case of finding the right places which is a bit tricky from a distance. (if any spring to mind I’d love to hear about them!)
I sell internationally from my website, I’m about to launch my e-commerce site which will make it more straight forward to buy directly from me. The pieces are soft and tactile which is hard to properly appreciate from photos.
More of Emma Ware
Photography by Vanya Sacha?
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Wow, really inspiring projects! I’ve just found your wonderful blog. Please, keep going. Kind regards from the Netherlands. Wannekes
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