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| Sunday, 18 August 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Gold Virtuosi : The Oscars of gold Jewellery : Lankan designer feted for the first time by Jayanthi Liyanage For the first time in the history of GOLD VIRTUOSI 2002 international jewellery design awards, a Sri Lankan walked up to be feted with international acclaim at the beautiful Colleoni Castle near Vicenza, Italy.
Ranjith Gamage, who works at L'Azurde Factory for Gold and Jewellery in Saudi Arabia, won one of the three "Technology Awards" introduced this year to the competition, which saw 5,098 designs being presented by 52 nations. Renowned as the 'Oscars' of gold jewellery, Gold Virtuosi is a collaboration of the World Gold Council and Vicenza Fair, the most prominent gold jewellery fair in the world. On awards night, among celebrities, fashion designers and goldsmiths flown from all over the world, yellow gold's gilded face was the gender-bender which launched a million sighs in thousands of male and female guests attending the spectacular show.
The comments from the judges of the competition, capture gold's intrinsic radiance and warmth which contribute to its strong relevance in our lives. Abu Jani, fashion designer, says, "The clothes are getting more simple, so accessories are getting more important. A lot of textures, colours and shades of gold are wonderful." "Gold is a precious metal but it can also be a casual metal," remarks Penny Proddow, USA's InStyle Magazine's Contributing Accessories Editor who has also co-authored a number of jewellery books such as Bejewelled: Great Designers and Celebrity. Penny goes on to say, "I think the earrings are getting larger, filling the whole real estate between the earlobe and the shoulder. Some necklaces are going borderline between necklaces and ruffs, and necklaces and stoles. So instead of wearing a scarf or a fur you throw on a necklace and you go out the door. Many of the jewels, your body moves in them, you can see through to the body. Anything that's rigid is out, but anything that flows is in. This exhibition has reflected these two aspects of fashion - with the blending of eastern and western sensibilities." "In the many different countries represented, I saw a major trend," says Elsa Klensch, fashion journalist, "A look of gold that was so light, it looked almost woven, so soft, pretty, wearable. A lot of jewellery that moved beautifully, that had a look of modernity. The trend is towards body jewellery!" Loulou de La Falaise-Egeria of Yves Saint Laurent echoes her, "Usually, when talking about gold, we think of tiny jewels, like a gold string with a little diamond. Here, we were dressed with gold from head to toe!" Krystyna Kaszuba, Chief Editor, Twoj Styl, sums it all with, "I think designers are thinking about women dressed in gold - this jewellery is the best dress in the world!" The punch line of today's eccentric elegance seems to be, "Gold is so different, you'll wear it differently." Emerging design trends at "Gold Oscars" reflected multiculturalism, fusing Western chic with oriental detailing and blending Eastern opulence with the refined elegance of the West. Abstract forms, geometric cuts and motifs drawn liberally from nature's infinite variety added femininity and sensuality to the jewellery pieces with tassels and fringes creating a strong sense of movement and fluidity. Contemporary gold jewellery appears to be breaking out of its traditional role as an accessory to an outfit, to become the most integral part of the outfit itself. One sees bracelets stretching up to the arm and capes of fine-woven gold and necklaces cascading over the shoulders. This versatility of gold is currently evoking a resurging passion for yellow gold by the goldsmiths and consumers. |
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