Jewellery & Metal (MA)
Bronte Schwier
Bronte Schwier is a designer-maker, born and raised in London. After completing her BA (Hons) at Central Saint Martins in Ceramic Design, she worked in the Fashion industry; assisting the likes of Cecilie Bahnsen, Phoebe English and the Jewellery Buying Team at Dover Street Market.
Coming from a creative background, Bronte has always been fascinated by material culture and craftsmanship. She is now combining her material knowledge of Silversmithing, Millinery and Product Design. Most recently Bronte has been creating accessories, including Millinery for the stylist, Max Pearmain.
During her Masters Degree in Jewellery and Metal at the RCA, her ring design for the Theo Fennell Competition was selected for manufacture, which is featured below. She was awarded both the Onno Boekhoudt Travel Bursary, and the opportunity of a weeks study in Japan as part of the Kyoto T5 Project.
Bronte has exhibited at the Dyson Gallery, Horniman Museum, 1Granary Square, London Design Festival, Lethaby Gallery and The National Gallery.
With what she saw as contradictory interests in the fashion industry and sustainable design, Bronte felt a hypocritical tension between her shared interests, prompting her to question ‘As designers, how can we take responsibility in altering overlooked consumer habits?’
Bronte states, “We get so bonded by mediocrity that we become complacent with the “need” for consumption, and the lack of resourcefulness”. Understanding an objects construction and adaptability is vital in design and for the user — the assembly of art and design should not be the end result, but a means to become more sensitive to where and what we consume.
“The aim of my final term was to explore possible ways to create elements that hold multifunctional capabilities. I explored handmade and machine-engineered techniques, using durable materials with the intention to provide functional, yet decorative components. I wanted to create a body of work with transferable qualities, and to reconcile the tension.” Bronte continues to collaborate and continue her MA project after lockdown.
Turned stainless steel, aluminium
Interchangeable components
Hardware for Ben Osborn AW20
Detachable, double-ended fixings
Through collaborating with local fashion designers, Bronte noticed a gap in the market for this kind of bespoke service and hardware offering today. Bronte aims to provide an opportunity to add durable, yet desirable detailing to garments, that could in fact be used on many other household objects.
With the use of turned steel, screw-threads and interconnecting components, Bronte offers multiple arrangements and uses for elements.
Medium:
Turned stainless steel, aluminiumIn Collaboration with:
Research
Hand carved push-button's
Shirt detail
Campaign still
Bronte was attracted to the permanent structures appearance of function and mass production, however each was designed by an individual architect. She imagines the ambitious engineered structures as microscopic details of silversmithing components.
Bronte created the set of hardware around this concept; the fastenings hold a structural form, yet offer movement and press functions.
During the Covid-19 lockdown she couldn't help but concentrate on the lack of ability to touch and handle objects; she wanted to create a range that offer the user personal, tactile and mechanised detailing. The collection consists of buttons, buckles and safety pin brooches for Tiscar Espadas - featured on the London Fashion Week, June 2020 online show.
Medium:
Aluminium, recycled plastic, copperIn Collaboration with:
Ring box, beech wood
Top view
Ring, earring, pendant
Pipe series
Front view
Tangled bracelet
The finished design, which the Theo Fennell team are producing, holds the Octagonal cut Mandarin Garnet in centre place, with a gunmetal-blue Rhodium finish.
In the spring term Bronte produced a prototype ring and box at college, testing out different technical approaches, such as, 3D printing and casting, hand forging silver wire, and hand building silver tube, in order to understand the material and technical properties of each method. The jewellery sits in a beech wood box – a gentle nod towards the industrial tube form.
Medium:
Sterling silver, beech wood, recycled plasticIn Collaboration with:
Research
In Collaboration with:
Continuation Fund, Royal College of Art
Onno Boekhoudt Bursary
Website:
http://www.cameronballoons.co.uk/Jewellery & Metal Event Panel Discussion: The Body Alive