about
Blurring the boundary between jewellery
and clothing, designer maker Maria Lau
creates unconventional jewellery and
fashion-prop accessories using
non-precious and familiar materials.
The resulting experience is a harmony
between casual and luxury. Graduating
from The Royal College of Art in
Mixed Media Textiles in 2003, jewellery
became a natural progression after
experimenting with diverse materials to
create hand and body accessories which
were inspired by ethnic adornment,
Japanese crafts and the female form.
For Maria Lau, inspiration comes in many forms, from the materials and techniques she uses, to alternative beats in fashion and music, to the English seasons or an imaginary tale conjured up in her mind.
The jewellery Maria Lau creates is playful yet contradictory as materials are chosen for their tactility and familiarity, whilst conventions are given a twist. Materials and their associations are brought together to create offbeat pieces that contain irony, a new narrative.
and clothing, designer maker Maria Lau
creates unconventional jewellery and
fashion-prop accessories using
non-precious and familiar materials.
The resulting experience is a harmony
between casual and luxury. Graduating
from The Royal College of Art in
Mixed Media Textiles in 2003, jewellery
became a natural progression after
experimenting with diverse materials to
create hand and body accessories which
were inspired by ethnic adornment,
Japanese crafts and the female form.
For Maria Lau, inspiration comes in many forms, from the materials and techniques she uses, to alternative beats in fashion and music, to the English seasons or an imaginary tale conjured up in her mind.
The jewellery Maria Lau creates is playful yet contradictory as materials are chosen for their tactility and familiarity, whilst conventions are given a twist. Materials and their associations are brought together to create offbeat pieces that contain irony, a new narrative.
Manipulating through simple hand techniques - knotting, wrapping and braiding, different materials are given a new role in the form of jewellery, becoming more complex in their dimensions. Once on the body, they become conversation pieces and
new interactions.
British-born and bilingual with Cantonese parentage, a strong fusion of cultures and mixed perceptions have always been present in Maria’s life. Her choice of materials and play with irony and conventions reflect this dual heritage. Most things, when examined closer hold an underlying or alternative meaning.
This has inspired another strand to Maria Lau’s work, where reclaimed and vintage materials are used to create intriguing and charming jewellery. New stories and shapes grow through the re-assemblage of found objects and components.
British-born and bilingual with Cantonese parentage, a strong fusion of cultures and mixed perceptions have always been present in Maria’s life. Her choice of materials and play with irony and conventions reflect this dual heritage. Most things, when examined closer hold an underlying or alternative meaning.
This has inspired another strand to Maria Lau’s work, where reclaimed and vintage materials are used to create intriguing and charming jewellery. New stories and shapes grow through the re-assemblage of found objects and components.
