DESIGN设计 JNA May/June 2024 | 19 No boundaries Genderless jewellery not only defies traditional norms but is also breaking creative boundaries by removing gender-specific characteristics in jewellery designs. “Neutral style is a boon for designers as it eliminates gender boundaries at the design level. We do not have to design exclusively for men or women as our jewellery creations can now be appreciated and worn by all genders,” said Daisy Chan, an award-winning jewellery designer from Hong Kong. Chan’s Muse Collection has garnered international acclaim, earning prestigious awards such as the Muse Design Awards 2021 (platinum awardee), the New York Product Design Awards 2021 (gold awardee) and the IDA Design Awards 2021 (silver awardee). She has also embraced gender-fluid designs for her jewellery brand, Thinking Daisy Jewellery. Her Stone Collection, for instance, featuring rock-like, nature-inspired sterling silver rings, has been well-received by both male and female customers. The designer recently unveiled a new piece called East Dam – a statement ring that exhibits more masculine attributes. It was inspired by the popular High Island Reservoir East Dam in Sai Kung, Hong Kong. “I thought it would be more appealing to men for its larger and more rugged design. To my surprise, it has gained greater popularity among women,” Chan said. “Modern women are drawn to edgier and more chic designs that go beyond traditional gemstone and diamond settings. Some men, on the other hand, are not so keen on conventionally masculine designs.” Universal appeal According to jewellery designers, certain artistic themes, especially those depicting everyday lives, resonate with genders across the board. Chow highlighted the popularity of animal-themed jewellery, which was central to her Uptown Funky Dog Collection. “Animal-inspired jewellery is enjoying strong demand this year compared to a few years ago probably because fewer people are having children nowadays and are instead having pets. The dog motif particularly appeals to a wide range of customers, regardless of gender,” she added. Each piece in the collection carries its own story, inspired by Zhou Wei's observations of everyday life. One of the pieces, "Foodie Dog," features popular food items like croissants and pizza. Thomas Tjiong, director of Cattivo Jewelry Co Ltd, believes that gender-fluid designs are taking centre stage due to the market’s ever-growing appetite for nonconforming jewellery pieces. Case in point is the strong momentum for pearl jewellery and the rising trend of “puffy style” jewellery. Cattivo’s pair of Duality Puff earrings is one of the company’s fast-moving pieces. These earrings designed in a striking two-toned, double-sided format “seamlessly blends fashionable aesthetics with the essence of fluidity and self-expression,” shared Tjiong. 3 6 4 5 1) Fintastic ear cuff by Joy Wei Chow Fine Jewelry; 2) East Dam ring by Thinking Daisy Jewellery; 3) Duality Puff earrings by Cattivo Jewelry Co Ltd; 4) Ring from Thinking Daisy Jewellery’s Stone Collection; 5) Earrings from Thinking Daisy Jewellery’s Muse Collection; 6) Queen Margaret ring by Joy Wei Chow Fine Jewelry 1) 周薇设计师珠宝的 Fintastic耳骨夹耳环; 2) Thinking Daisy Jewellery的东坝戒指; 3) Cattivo Jewelry Co Ltd的Duality puff耳环; 4) Thinking Daisy Jewellery Stone系列的戒指; 5) Thinking Daisy Jewellery Muse系列的耳环 ; 6) 周薇设计师珠宝的玛格丽特皇后戒指
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