CARRIE. K X KAPOK
When Hong Kong lifestyle store Kapok approached Ms Carolyn Kan last June to design a capsule collection to celebrate its 10th anniversary this year, Ms Kan jumped at the chance.
"It was a no-brainer," the designer and founder of jewellery label Carrie K. says. "I have always admired the team's eye for finding interesting designers and I select partners who share the same love of design and storytelling."
The 43-year-old's minimalist designs have been stocked at the Kapok store at the National Design Centre since 2014.
For the capsule collection, comprising unisex leather bracelets and rings in different finishes and two sizes, she says that she was inspired by the humble window hook.
"As Kapok goes all over the world to look for new designers to introduce to its customers in Asia, it made me think of it as being a window to the world," she explains.
"In Asia, we have these old-school wooden windows that are held open by the window hook, and that was one of the visuals I had."
The leather bracelets, which come in four colours - dark blue, black, brown and light tan - have a top-plated window hook which allows wearers to personalise it with an engraving. The sterling window hooks, similar to the rings, come in two other finishes - rose-gold and 14K gold-plated.
In Singapore, the capsule collection is sold at the Kapok store at the National Design Centre from now till Feb 22, and at the Carrie K. Atelier in Bukit Timah Road.
Prices start from $198 for a silver ring to $318 for a leather bracelet with a rose-gold or 14K gold-plated window hook.
Says Ms Kan of the designs: "I noticed that the Kapok customer is well-travelled and design-savvy, so we designed something that has a deeper meaning if the customer looks into it and would match whatever he or she is wearing easily."
She is the only Singaporean designer whom Kapok commissioned to create a collection for its anniversary.
Kapok worked with 11 other international brands for its anniversary, such as Paris-based hat label Beton Cire and French cashmere brand Flouzen.
Ms Chris Lo, Kapok's womenswear buyer, says: "We think it is important to select brands that are representing us strong enough regionally.
"Carrie K.'s concept of manipulating daily objects into jewellery designs fits our vision of wearable and timeless accessories."
Alyssa Woo
