I've been getting a lot of questions about trends lately, so I thought I'd put the same questions to you, dear readers. What trends do you see as growing or diminishing in popularity? Which ones are your favorites?Leave a comment and be entered in a chance to win Jean Campbell's excellent (and timely!) new book, Steampunk Style Jewelry.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Wire is a hot category right now. Will it continue to grow as more people get hooked on wire and introduced to working with metals?
- Filigree and Steampunk are both still popular looks and are supported by the romantic/vintage trends in fashion jewelry.
- Hand-beaded elements are popular in fashion jewelry, ie. beaded bails, seed bead rings, etc.
- Altered Scrabble tiles, Ranger's alcohol inks and resin bezels feed the Mixed Media trend.
I'll collect comments for one week, then a name will be randomly selected. Check back here to see if you've won.
50 comments:
I think cold connection & soldering will see a surge in popularity. These methods are great w/ found object work & really lend themselves to steampunk
I have really gotten interested in wire working, and I have noticed that others have indicated they want to learn it too. Resin also seems to be quite popular now, and is something else I'm trying out too.
I think we'll see increased interest in eco-friendly jewelry... reused and recycled components, reclaimed metals, use of fair trade materials. It's also time for us as designers to move away from the use of corals and unfairly/unethically mined stones. I support the trend of awareness and sustainability!
Filigree and Steampunk !!
I am a romantic at heart so the vintage brass, steam-punked is my fav! But I also love wire work...and Resin...Resin is pretty hot right now, as well.
Hi...I live in a retirement community in Florida, and I notice alot of woment are wearing necklaces with large chunky beads in bright colors...Haven't tried to make any yet ( not sure where to find these beads ) but I love them!!!!!!!
Turquoise seems to be everywhere lately!
I think mixed media will continue to be a strong trend and will incorporate more quirky 'found' art objects. I love the recycling of nostalgia items like scrabble tiles and Barbie shoes into new jewelry.
I enjoy all types of jewelry making and haven't tried any steampunk style yet -- looks interesting and I see it everywhere so it looks like a popular trend.
metal stamping seems to be getting popular
I love to collect steampunk elements (LOVE the look!), but I need the skills to effectively implement the ideas I have swimming in my brain. I think this trend has a solid hold right now, and I admire artists who have the eye for it.
Resin is huge right now, but I do like the beaded bead trend considering I like to beadwork! I think stones are becoming popular. Big chunky stones layered with other types of beads or ribbon.
I love the Steampunk trend. I tend to like "different", I don't necessarily want to wear what everyone else is. I love Lucite flowers, altered art pieces, metal free form sculture pieces, and especially when I can combine all of them for a fabulous and fun piece. I also really love the Vintaj brass nature elements. Jeanie's book is terrific, I would love to win it!
I vote for pearls-not just for ladies anymore. Freshwater pearls in neat colors are great for casual wear too, some of my biggest sellers!
I think the recycled or upcycled components will continue to grow. Also, jewelry made with mixing everything together: stones, wood, metal, gems, etc. The more eclectic, the better.
My favorite beading trend, I'm hoping will turn into a classic is Swarovski crystals. I really love the sparkle and using them for beadweaving. I also like all the new shapes & colors.
I also like the trend of big cuff bracelets.
I think trends are: metal stamping, wirework, mixed metals, vintage brass and resin. Steampunk I haven't tried yet; love the output but just do not understand the name of the phenomenon.
I would really like to get into wire and steampunk , and learn more to perfect my abilities
Maybe I'm different than everyone else but I love the woven jewelry made with RAW, triangle stitch, netting and other stitches such as that. I love making it and the way it looks. I also work with wire sometimes and would love to learn more with it. I've seen the steampunk jewelry in Bead & Button as well as online but never tried it.
I think copper is growing in style, antiqued and integrated with stones and pearls for an edgy. Metalsmithing integrated wtih all types of beads is growing as well.
I didn,t know that Jean Campbell start to play with wire. Thanks for sharing, I'm sure it is wonderful book!
I'm over in the UK so I guess perhaps the trends are slightly different but I have noticed a couple of things - metal clay continues to surge in popularity but I have also noted that bead weaving seems to be getting more attention than it used to - a trend I am a big fan of! Nostalgic 'junky' jewellery is also hugely popular over here.
I think mixed media with metals and beadweaving is growing and I would love to see more of it!
I see going "green" becoming more and more popular.Repurposing & recycling is a trend I hope stays around. Thanks for the chance to win the book
I like modern, but eccletic not so much. Love wire, love color, love pretty
I'm on the West Coast in USA and I've yet to see anyone actually wearing steampunk jewelry.
In fact I've been noticing that few women I've seen while walking the malls even wear necklaces. Very disheartening for the jewelry maker.
I don't know what they are wearing to the clubs though. :)
Love your stuff!! Use it in my jewelry work.
Scrabble tile jewelry (at least the plain, letter style) is on its way out. Wire is still on its way up, and mixed media starting to hit it big.
oh, i would love to win this book,i am teaching myself beading,am i am picking some of it without any problems. but, i really like the steampunk,but,i seem to be having some difficulties.this book would be quite helpful for me.
thanks,
barbara/nannie
I find myself taking apart clocks and watches to get pieces to use in my work.
would be right up my alley - when i was little i would take apart watches just to see all the neat stuff inside - i also love all things rusty- nails, bottle caps ,wire-etc.
The 3 R's have changed! Now it's RECYCLE, REUSE, & REPURPOSE. And I'm loving it. I also keep hearing that old cliche "everything old is new again".
I really love vintage jewelry repurposed.
I'm so trend-ignorant...but I have seen an upswing in the sales of my copper jewelry. So, more copper? And found objects added to the work make it more interesting.
More copper, less silver. I am going to try the colored wire I am seeing on blogs.
Found object jewelry just seems to be growing and growing.
I don't know what everyone loves, but I love the "bubbles look". I prefer to work with circles and circles inside of circles. I just think it looks so fun. I'm also very into bright colors right now!
Copper's popularity continues to grow & it looks esp. cool with turquoise which is popular right now too. Fused silver and mixed media seem to be big trends too.
As "green" jewelry continues to grow, I think we'll see consumers more drawn to natural materials and interested in fair trade issues. And along the same lines, jewelry that has a "story" to tell will stand out in the marketplace ~ all good signs for the handcrafted jewelry artist!
Copper and brass - actually, mixed metals - is poplar and growing. Anything unexpected, whether it be a steampunk touch or a repurposed item, seems to be popular. Women want to be different, so handcrafted is a trend on it's own. I'm finding that my personalized line is huge right now. Doesn't everyone like something just all about them? : )
I'm really interested in trying the resin bezels - small ones for charm bracelets! But what I see people actually wearing are simple chains with a charm or a few beads. Dainty jewelry. I love the look of steampunk, but don't see people actually wearing it.
I totally sell out of my jewelry that includes anything vintage, re-purposed and unusual. I think we will continue to see a rise in wire trends because you can do so much with wire! Love your blog!
great looking book !
Paper, polymer and pewter. . . PUNKED!!
Wow what a toss up! I attendent the Beadfest Wire in Phildelphia a few weeks ago and loved it. Just not enough time nor money to take all the wonderful classes.
I feel as jewelry artists we need to continue to be observant to all types of styles, simple,elegant,funky etc. But if I had to choose......pass the envelope please. The winner is: Steampunk and chucky,bright bold colors!
I have been looking all over for steampunk style components ever since I saw the segment on beads babuble and jewels. I am always trying to look for new things to incorporate in my crafting.
Hi, darling!
You more than anyone else know that I love to follow trends and be aware of what is IN.
Today, I looked through the latest issues of 3 Beading magazines and to me was terribly boring...with very few exceptions.
Antique findings are all over, a wide variety of new/old styles of beads, lots of vintage look, some people "dig in" the assymetrical look now as it was something surprisingly new, just like wire wrapping and mix media. The editorials were all very similar and to be honest I"ve found tons of non-flattering pieces a bunch.
I believe there is a huge gap between trends on the runway, trends on the streets, trends in the jewelry market and trends around the beading world.
I don't see women wearing all this unique jewelry on daily basis at all,not even the commercial jewelry we see at the stores.
When I am creating my jewelry collection or line I don't follow trends. I work with findings I like, shape of beads I like and colors that communicates with my soul on that specific moment...nothing change so drastically...and the techniques I use remain the ones that can help me to finish a piece as fast as possible.
The trends guide me to create pieces for manufacturers and wholesalers that wants me to showcase their products.
I think that the transitional economic situation we are living in is forcing people to re design old pieces and or shopping for vintaje stuff in antique stores.
Said that and to answer your question:
I don't have a favorite trend but if I had to accessorize a woman on this season it would be double cuff and big earrings or a single statement necklace...Lanvin style- geometric, high tech and extravagant solely. ( but in Dallas statement necklaces have been IN since always!) :(
PS 1.
I will pop by more often so I can read your posts and write comments sooner.
XoXo!
PS 2. In Brazil: necklaces made with fabric (cotton, satin and jersey) are IN and women wear them all over..
PS 3. And still...
tons of findings and beads that I saw in the Garment Distric in Los Angeles last year and again in the begining of this year, have not hit the trade shows on our part of the country at all.
I believe both reused and recycled components, reclaimed metals,eco-friendly jewelry...along with soldering and cold connections will increase in popularity.
I absolutely love steampunk. Has a wonderful feel. I have trouble with google, so I'm hoping this goes through.
I love steampunk and wish there were more of it around. It's a unique, urban style.
I think the mixed media styles will continue to grow and can lend themselves to several techniques. I'm seeing more combining of the unusual - not traditional beads & jewelry components into pieces.
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