FK chats to Justine of Adelaide based jewellery label Resinate, who debuted at the recent Melbourne Markets!
Tell us about your label Resinate and what the concept is behind it?
Resinate is an Adelaide based contemporary jewellery label, exploring bold shapes and loud colours. The concept behind the label is adornment – the expression of oneself, for women who like statement pieces.
A lot of my inspiration for the label comes from materials, with this current collection I’ve enjoyed working with mild steel and I think the label will continually evolve as I explore other materials.
What is your background and how did you get started working with jewellery?
My love affair with jewellery has been a long one and its taken me some time to get to this point, but I wouldn’t trade my creative journey for anything. I wanted to study jewellery design at the Uni but in the end I thought graphic design was a more practical choice. Looking back I’m so happy that I had this training in creative thinking. I worked as a graphic designer for over 7 years with some traveling in between. In that time I still yearned to be making jewellery and in 2009 whilst I was traveling in Italy I stumbled across a school in Florence called Alchimia, it is one of Europe’s most creative contemporary jewellery schools. It was here that my eyes were truly opened to creative ideas and the use of non-traditional materials.
About a year and a half later after my son was born Resinate came into fruition. It has been a real combination of all of my studies and work experiences that have lend me down this path.
How has your creative style developed over time? and what inspires your work?
My creative style is ever changing along with what inspires the pieces. At the moment I’m interested in exploring contrasts – strength and vulnerability. To me these are characteristics that make up the modern day woman.
A lot of this collection is based on this theme, changing the perception of these bold aggressive shapes and making them elegant with the use of colour and texture.
I draw a lot of inspiration from furniture, architecture and industrial machinery and of course fashion.
What do you love about living in Adelaide?
I love the beaches, the food, the wine, my family and friends.
What challenges have you faced starting your own label, and what are some things you love about it?
With a young child my biggest challenge is time, there never seems to be enough.
I love having my own label purely and simply because it is my creation and I don’t have to follow the ideas and philosophies of another person or company.
It feels good to have a business that was started from a bunch of ideas and now I can watch it grow and develop.
What new projects are you working on and where would you like to see Resinate in the future?
I’m looking forward to experimenting with some different materials for my new collection and would like to incorporate wax casting and chrome plating. I have nothing planned and that is the way I like to work.
My vision for Resinate is to continue making ready to wear jewellery that makes a statement. As well as designing some runway pieces, working more closely with fashion designers on collaborated projects.
