BRITISH jewellery designer Kat Dibbits is urging people to
buy handmade this Christmas.
Kat, who sells her range of reworked vintage jewellery
through the UK-based online marketplace Folksy says that festive shoppers can
not only find unusual gifts by looking beyond the High Street, they can save
money, too.
She said: “There are so many talented makers and designers
in Britain who work hard to promote their work through online shops, galleries
and independent traders – there really is no excuse for buying something mass
produced as a gift this Christmas.”
Kat’s own range, Made With Love (www.madewithlove.folksy.com) has
a couture ethos distilled for everyday life.
Each piece is handmade and no two pieces are the same.
“As my work is based on repurposing vintage brooches,
bracelets, necklaces and earrings into something new and gorgeous, I couldn’t
repeat one particular design even if I wanted to.”
Kat’s painstaking process starts with her scouring flea
markets and junk shops to find unloved items that have potential to be fabulous
again. Many of her items feature stamped jewellery by the likes of Sarah
Coventry and Coro that has for some reason been abandoned.
After preparing these by removing pins and sharp edges she
combines them with all sorts of beautiful stones, including unusual pale faceted
amethysts, dramatic onyx and her own favourite, peridot.
It takes several hours to make each piece.
“I think of it as the most glamorous way to recycle,” says
Kat.
And with a new “Under £20” section on her website, it’s an
affordable way to wear one-of-a-kind pieces.
“My prices range up to about £60, but I don’t see any reason
why someone who has only got a tenner to spend shouldn’t have something
beautiful, too,” she says. “Buying something gorgeous for yourself or as a gift
is a real pick-me-up that should be available to everyone!”
To see the full range, visit www.madewithlove.folksy.com.
For more information, email Kat on made_with_love@rocketmail.com
High resolution images are available on request.
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