Lady LUX

Inspired by the Wild West, Prismera designer, Laura Su put aside her feminine shapes and fabrics, for a more sensible, simple and time-worn collection with the debut of her newest line, Revival. However, Su asserts, Prismera’s lines have a common thread.

“What pulls it all together is the reference to the past, while maintaining a modern feel throughout each collection,” Su said.

While most of her necklaces, bracelets and rings, look they were made by a meticulous artisan, Su traded clean lines for a handmade look. Her rings aren’t rigid in their shape, but soft and worn with a vintage flair. Her Raw Pyrite necklace, one of her favorite pieces, is bold and uncut, hanging from a long chain.

Simplicity is key in the new collection. Unlike her fabric necklaces in the PD Couture collection, Su lets lace stand alone in her Revival collection, instead of intricate layers and embellishment, or she shapes them as petals, and lets them dangle on a necklace. She also uses a favorite stone, agate, but in a new way. Dangling from earrings or on a long chain, the creamy, brown shade looks like wood, very fitting with the Old West motif.

A sense of wild abandon seems to permeate the collection, which is more economically accessible than others, which seems fitting with the social climate. When it comes to personal style, people are starting to take risks and break out of their molds, but economically, they can only afford so much.

“I think it’s important to create some pieces that will not only be accessible in an intellectual sense…I think most of us remember learning about this time period in school and connect to the sense of history,” Su said. “But they should also be easily attainable.”

Su was excited to incorporate some new textures into her collection.

“I’ve never used suede in my work before but I’m finding myself drawn to the soft texture, especially towards this time of year,” Su said. “The combination of soft leather and gold chains gives off this really laid back, luxe aesthetic that I dig.”

Although Revival seems to be a new direction for the designer, her aesthetic is apparent throughout. Her inspiration by nature is seen in the Lemon Quartz Feather Necklace, which features Marquis-cut quartz in the shape of a bird’s feather. Leaves, stones, and flowers always find a way into her pieces, whether it’s a charm on a bracelet or the shape of a ring.

Now that her fall collection is on its way, what is Laura Su up to? Right now, the designer is working on her spring collection. However, she said, it’s not an easy endeavor.

“It’s a bit of a challenge for me because I wanted to move beyond florals and the natural progression to me… is butterfly motifs,” Su said. The designer generally dislikes butterfly jewelry but a tangential discovery has her excited about what’s to come.

“I’ve interpreted the Atlas Moth into a statement necklace,” she said. “Okay, it’s not actually a butterfly but close enough for me. I can already see that it’s going to be one of my favorites.”

The early American, western collection, entitled “Revival”, is now available on her web site at www.prismeradesign.com. Keep up to date on her spring 2011 collection by following Laura Su on twitter @prismera.

Tagged in: lux exclusives, jewelry, accessories, handmade, prismera, stone,

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