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F
rom statement necklaces to delicate
headpieces, this summer is definitely
all about jewellery.Whether you drench
yourself in bling,prefer a subtle ring or an
elegant pair of earrings to complete your
outfit, jewellery is universally acknowledged as a
girl’s best friend; especially the three-dimensional
and clean cut sort, which is the signature style of
established Irish jewellery designer Rachel Swan.
Rachel Swan has been in the jewellery industry
for little over five years and in that time she has
managed to secure stockists in both Ireland and the UK.
Having created many versatile designs, her jewellery
is also showcased in ‘Elements’ in Portugal; quite a
rise to success for a woman who began her career
in very humble settings as an apprentice to jeweller
and artist, Alan Ardiff. The economic climate was not
exactly booming in 2008 when Rachel left her full-time
apprenticeship “to start my own collections in my
shed!” However, armed with tenacity and a love
forjewellery,whichhadgrownfromayoungagewhen
Rachel would admire her granmother’s jewellery
box, she left the stable and the familiar to venture
into the not-so-glamorous and unknown. Swan’s
risk paid off as today she now boasts her own brand,
renowned
for its “clean and
simple lines, and for its three dimensional
and architectural qualities.”
Rachel cites her apprenticeship as an instrumental
force behind her success: “I received technical training
at the bench and got a great insight into how a busy
craft business is run. So, I felt I was somewhat prepared
when I started creating my own collections and putting
them out there.” This training combined with an almost
inherent love of jewellery (“jewellery has always been
part of my life”) has seen Rachel pursue her dreams of
designing and creating.
Her collections are like no other. The
geometric shapes, clean-cut finish and signature
oxidised silver tones of her pieces have a
contemporary appeal, whilst the intricate detailing sets
the designs apart from current statement jewellery. Her
A DESIGNER OF
HOLLOW FORMED
THREE-DIMENSIONAL
JEWELLERY INSPIRED
BY MODERN
ARCHITECTURE AND
SCULPTURE,
SIMRAN
GILL
FINDS OUT
MORE ABOUT RACHEL
SWAN, A JEWELLERY
DESIGNER KNOWN
FOR HER SIGNATURE
SATIN FINISH.
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