Hania Kuzbari: A Traditional Approach to Contemporary Jewelry
At Toronto Fashion Week® Spring/Summer 2020, Hania Kuzbari debuted a parlour-style presentation of artisan fine jewelry inside The Hazelton Hotel’s Yorkville Room. The show – a throwback to parlour-style fashion presentations of the past, where designers’ collections were shown to a highly select guest list of VIPs, media, buyers, and clients in a private, intimate space – was purpose-designed as a commentary on the designer’s “slow fashion” approach.
Photo: George Pimentel
Models drifted in languid and unhurried strides, forming deliberate configurations that drew attention to the delicate design details of each jewelry piece. Embodying the principles of slow fashion, the presentation and designs were a welcome reprieve from the bustle of a frenetic and hurried Fashion Week.
Each of Kuzbari’s works – handcrafted in Jordan – can be described as an objet d’art, telling a tale of the history which inspired its creation. Rather than mere replication, Kuzbari’s design ethos reflects the idea of reimagination. Ancient design techniques such as filigree and granulation are given a contemporary twist, creating heritage-crafted jewelry inextricable from history. Each piece at once weaves together a rich tapestry of cultural expression to inspire individual exploration for its wearer, and every collection is an artistic representation of the designer’s life. The results are incredibly elegant and delicate designs that coalesce tradition with the sensibilities of modernity.
Smile Collection
The designer’s latest collection, titled Smile, is dedicated to the people in her homeland of Syria and comprised of imaginative faces skillfully rendered in treated silver and gold and accented by coloured diamonds, sapphire, and tourmalines. The expertly designed series masterfully juxtaposes heritage and style and simultaneously strives to “fight darkness with smiling—and bring happiness to others, one person at a time.”
Kuzbari’s designs can be described as a meditation of sorts; a testament to the symbiosis of modernity and tradition. In incorporating ancient craftsmanship for the contemporary woman’s wardrobe, her collections, all comprised of conflict-free diamonds and ethical gemstones, at once, celebrate this duality. While her presentation at Toronto Fashion Week® Spring/Summer 2020 was distinguished by an unhurried pace and a focus on the designer’s traditional craftsmanship, the show felt wholly and resolutely modern.
Cody Rooney is a Glossi Mag contributor.
He is a photography aficionado, masters candidate, fashion enthusiast, avid Ariana Grande fan and lover of all things aesthetically pleasing.
