Albert Einstein once said “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Motivated by her love and respect for nature, Los Angeles-based designer Daniela Villegas created the backyard collection to celebrate insects as a symbol of integration and balance of mankind with the environment.
The usually scary spider, beetle and centipede are transformed into delightful jewels that narrate freedom, evolution and joy. Of all the insects, the scarab, often associated with the ancient Egyptian culture, is a recurrent motif in her works.
Claiming that scarab is one of her favourite animals, Villegas explained: “I love the Egyptian culture, the stories and symbolism found in its history, things and daily life. The scarab is a symbol of good luck and rebirth, new opportunities and protection.” While the Egyptians are believed to be the first to wear jewellery made from living insects, particularly scarab beetles for their power of protection, Villegas’s works, some of which containing real beetles, pay tribute to this age-old tradition and literally draw their wearers closer to Mother Nature.
Asked to describe her jewellery in one word, the designer replied “magical” without hesitation. Indeed, her use of coloured gemstones and bewildering, if not bizarre form immediately places the viewer in a kaleidoscopic dream of exotic wonders. The fashionable jewellery brand regularly unveils new creations in the Paris Fashion Week. Currently their distribution network includes selected stores across the United States, Canada, France, Denmark, the UK, Saudi Arabia and Shanghai of China as well as major online luxury retailers such as Net-a-Porter and Moda Operandi. (Photo Courtesy: Daniela Villegas)
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