Colmar 05/10/2010

As a designer for Lapponia, meeting clients and wearers at trunkshows has always been something terribly exciting.

After the usual welcome glass of whatever beverage (depending on the place, the time, my own capacity to judge whether I should really try this funny looking liquid or skip to recognizable solid food) and the welcome speech, people wait until a subtle change in the intonation of the speaker indicates that, yes, one may rush to the buffet. Now.

That’s the moment .

After all that’s why we designers are there then, to allow the admiring crowds to share a little of the sacred space that constantly surrounds us. They think.

The very first time I was asked about what inspires me, I think I spontaneously answered « from the world around me, from life ». Obvious.

I could immediately notice how disappointed my interlocutors were, expecting something really interesting, something they could go home with, and revere for the rest of their lives.

It took me some time to realize I had to start from the beginning : in the end, what is jewellery ? Why do we wear those things ? What is preciousness ? Why and how do we classify jewellery ? Is there a relevant definition of « contemporary » ? What is wearability ? How different is (should be) men’s jewellery ? etc, etc…

My experience is that, rather than providing answers, to put questions like these raised people’s interest to a point that led to fantastic moments, exchanging thoughts nobody (including myself) would had dreamt of, having started the evening with a simple : « and now, please meet our designer Christophe Burger ».


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