Oct 21, 2020Designer Profiles

Silvia Furmanovich's New Collection

"The Designer’s Newest Collection Takes Us East"

Silvia Furmanovich is an acclaimed jewelry designer and extraordinary artist. You may know her best from her Marquetry Collection, wherein she uses a highly-skilled process of assembling hand-cut wood veneer shapes into fine jewelry pieces. The inspiration for her new collection, Amazonia Bamboo, was to incorporate the art of Japanese bamboo weaving with Silvia’s jewelry design philosophy of elevating natural materials with diamonds and precious stones.

“I was inspired by the artistry we see in Japanese baskets, which are woven from thin strips of bamboo in a variety of shapes and colors,” Silvia said. The final result is nothing short of divine.

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Block image 1 — Bamboo Neutral Drop Earrings

What was your inspiration for the Amazonia Bamboo collection?

"Bamboo weaving is a tradition that dates back generations. The process involves lengthy apprenticeships in workshops whereby the know-how is handed down from father to son. Mastering those skills and techniques can take decades. My first experience with bamboo weaving was on a visit to Japan, where I eventually came to know the artisans from the city of Beppu."

What was it like working with the artisans of Beppu?

"I worked with the Beppu City Traditional Crafts Center director, who connected me with local bamboo artists. It was vital for me to be specific about the pieces I commissioned to adapt to jewelry, challenging given the language barrier! The artisans are incredibly proud of their craft and were very open to collaborating with me."

Tell us about Instituto Jatobás and its significance to the collection?

"We used several stones native to Brazil: citrine, topaz, amethyst, and tourmaline. Thus, we baptized the collection Amazonia Bamboo to tie it back to my home country.

Block image 4 — Hand Painted Flower Bracelet, Obi Bamboo Bracelet

How did you incorporate your native Brazil into the collection?

"We used several stones native to Brazil: citrine, topaz, amethyst, and tourmaline. Thus, we baptized the collection Amazonia Bamboo to tie it back to my home country."

How do you imagine the jewelry being styled?

"What I love about this collection is that you can wear bamboo jewelry very casually. The pieces will make jeans and a t-shirt look super chic! Or you can very well wear to a cocktail party — I love the versatility of this collection."