Four colorful necklaces draped over a white folded stand, one display among 60 in a handsome exhibit of "Paper Jewellery", a new show at Milan’s Triennale Design Museum. The work of peasant women in northern Uganda thus placed side by side with that of the finest jewelry artists in the world. As I walked the exhibit, I thought yet again of the evolution of our beaders’ work from simple to exceptional and how it came be chosen by the curators of "Paper Jewellery" for inclusion in this amazing show.
During the afternoon press conference, I listened to the Triennale’s Vice-President exhort the “women of Milan” to think about paper in a new way, to consider how this humble medium can be reworked by skilled hands and become fashionable art. “Ladies, will you wear paper jewelry?” he challenged the women in the room and beyond. “Can you accept that it can be stylish, beautiful and fun, and that it creates its own fashion statement?”
From the beginning, the reaction to our beaders’ work has always been, “I can’t believe it’s made of paper.” At the crowded opening of the exhibit, this was a consistent reaction to many of the items on display. Fanciful cutouts, layered cardboard, paper bent, twisted and pleated into dramatic shapes. Our paper beads were not the most creative or stylish in the room, but they fit in perfectly; and among all the stunning, often startling pieces, they are probably the most unique: necklaces that take paper into the realm of fashion while taking women and their families out of poverty. Paper as pearls, paper as beauty, paper transformed and transforming. Northern Uganda―poor and marginalized, torn apart by war and displacement―now has another story to tell.
"Paper Jewellery" will be in Milan until October 25th. It will then travel internationally, returning to Italy in July 2010, where it will be on display at the Paper Museum of Fabriano in Umbria throughout the summer.
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( 2.9 / 391 )
This week is Fashion Week in New York, and I find myself thinking about the fashion aspect of Paper to Pearls. When I started this initiative, I didn't think of this at all. The jewelry, although attractive and interesting was initially too basic, too simple to be a fashion statement. What everyone found compelling was the story...of women in refugee camps beading their way out of poverty and transforming their lives in the process.
Three and a half years later, however, we have a product that is indeed fashionable. The skill of our beaders has increased exponentially both in execution and styling. We have worked hard to teach them what quality means, and the results...well, what better testament to the evolution of their work than its inclusion in the upcoming Milan Paper Jewelry exhibit. (The accompanying photo is one of our necklaces included in the show.) The work of farming women from northern Uganda will be featured side by side with that of some of the major jewelry designers in the world. And in Milan, perhaps the fashion capital of the world!
Our beaders are still beading to improve their lives and the lives of their families. We still are still passionate about supporting them and telling their story as an example of what is possible in one of the most marginalized regions in the world. Meanwhile, we represent a product that is "green" and fair trade and, increasingly, a fashion statement, and that is worth celebrating. It's also interesting to note that the Ethical Fashion Preview will debut this year during New York Fashion Week. This event will spotlight fashion designers who create collections using environmentally friendly materials and processes, and manufacture their collections respecting fair trade and fair wage principles. Clearly, we fit right in!
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( 2.9 / 336 )My friend Ann recently returned from East Africa, full of stories about her adventure: wonderful animal safaris in both Kenya and Tanzania, and fascinating encounters with local people particularly in rural areas. Among the highlights were meeting and interacting with members of the Samburu tribe of Kenya and the Maasai of neighboring Tanzania, both well known for their colorful beaded necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Ann wore her Paper to Pearls necklaces frequently during her trip and in doing so caught the attention of women from both tribes who wanted to know what the beads were and where they were from. "Uganda", Ann repeated several times in response. The women fingered the necklaces and apparently discussed them in their language. Ann and I are certain that whatever they said was complementary! Here's Ann with a Maasai woman, both wearing their unique necklaces.
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( 3 / 307 )Our littlest model is four years old with a magnetic smile and the name of Aber. Aimee Oberndorfer, a great friend of Paper to Pearls, took Aber's picture when she was in Gulu in June doing evaluations for the project. How could I resist posting this picture, especially since Aber is wearing one of P2P's newest necklace styles. Of course we hope that wearing a P2P necklace brings a smile to everyone's face!
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( 2.9 / 307 )There's always excitement in the Paper to Pearls office when a new shipment arrives, but especially so two weeks ago. That shipment represented a defining moment for us--the first necklaces with our new acrylic finish. This means no solvents in traditional varnishes to worry about, no odor and airing out of the necklaces, and the ability to say that our project is 100% "green". I'm thrilled.
We worked with a chemist in Uganda to come up with the finish. Mr. Kamau did a wonderful job. The finish he came up with is based on the one first developed by BeadforLife. It is lightweight, even when two or three coats are applied, and provides the same great sheen and durability as the varnish the women have been using.
Not only that, but the shipment was the first to be completely made with our new silver clasps. Now, instead of the plastic twist clasps, we have a product that has that final element of quality and class. Meg, my assistant, has just finished adding the new arrivals to the web store, and more will be coming in another week.
I continue to be impressed by how creative our beaders can be. It's as if their innovation and creativity have been released after having been bottled up for so long. Am already anticipating the new necklace styles, the category in my order I call "Surprise Me". We'll have to put photos of Meg modeling them in an upcoming blog!
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