Embroidered jewellery to go nationwide
But after a gruelling experience in the corporate world, jewellery buff Natalie Cutliffe sees her new role as a creative respite.
"What I really love about designing and making my own jewellery is there are no limitations on the materials I use or how bizarre the piece may look ? sky's the limit."
Launching her own accessory line at the recent Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW), Cutliffe said she was prepared to take on the retail scene following some one-on-one time at local markets and stalls.
Specialising in embroidered pieces, including earrings, necklaces and bracelets priced from $50 to $230, the designer believes her label had already achieved a strong point of difference.
"I had been selling your average bead on a string variety [at market stalls] but I wanted to achieve some thing more. My designs offer one-off creations merging cabochons and centrepieces with an array of precious beads."
Because each piece is created entirely by hand, Cutliff also said there was no risk of consumers wearing the same thing. Sourcing her cabochons from around the world, the designer also utilises Swarovski crystals, pearls, Czech glass beads, Delica, Matsuno and Miyuki seed beads and freshwater pearls. These are then embroidered onto a suede or leather backing and topped off with exotic clasps or toggles.
Her debut collection, which premiered at RAFW's exhibition area 'The Source', is split into two categories; 'Space Odyssey' which features metallic silvers and golds, chunky crystals, topaz and jet black stones and 'New Romantics which includes a range of floral pieces on pastel settings.
Hoping to sell her collection to boutiques nationwide, Cutliffe currently has a small stockist base on the south coast of Australia.
"Fashion Week [was] my starting point. I'm hoping that I can at least obtain some awareness of the brand and take it from there."