Nana Watanabe · CLIENT: Nana Watanabe
A paper pattern is created, and the design is programmed into a computer for embroidery. After embroidering on organza fabric, it is heat cut and folded like origami to form a three dimensional shape. The piece is lightweight yet maintains a sturdy structure, ensuring it retains its shape during storage and wear. The careful selection of materials and expert craftsmanship recreate the natural texture and movement of a shrimp, with particular attention to details such as the eggs in the abdomen. The use of gradient dyed rayon thread captures the enchanting beauty of marine life.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This design uses flat embroidered organza fabric, cut and folded to create a three-dimensional shrimp effect. Intricate folds, like origami, form the pattern. The design includes translucent eggs visible on the shrimp's abdomen. The structure incorporates air, making it much lighter than it appears. These unique features combine traditional embroidery with innovative folding methods to achieve a distinctive and delicate aesthetic.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Dimensions: Approximately 5cm x 8.5cm x 3cm
Weight: Approximately 3g
Package: Comes in a luxurious gift box.
Technical Properties: The organza's transparency and rayon embroidery provide both lightness and durability. Extensive embroidery ensures that the soft fabric maintains its shape. - Tags
- Art, jewelry, earrings, lightweight, embroidery, sustainable, contemporary, costume jewelry, Wearable art
- Production Technology
- My design features embroidery with rayon thread on organza, using machine embroidery. I created a pattern by hand and made a paper model. After several trials, I digitized the design on a computer. The factory then embroidered the fabric, which was heat-cut and assembled with adhesive and hand sewing. Bonding the organza was challenging, but rayon stitches resolved this. Extensive embroidery ensures the soft fabric maintains its shape.
- Design Challenge
- The hardest part of this design was combining the delicacy of organza with the durability of rayon embroidery. Overcoming the challenge of bonding organza involved adding rayon stitches, achieved through extensive prototyping. The project considered historical and modern jewelry techniques, eco-friendly materials, and local production possibilities. Balancing artistic vision with practical constraints required significant research and innovation.
- Project Duration
- The project started in September 2022 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, and was completed in December 2022.
- Operation Flow
- These earrings are very lightweight despite their size, making them comfortable to wear. They combine the softness of organza with the durability of rayon embroidery, ensuring the shape stays intact even with the soft material. The transparency of the earrings brightens the face, and their artistic design brings joy to the wearer. This design offers a delicate and glamorous touch that sets it apart from other earrings.
- Research
- This project is a process of trial and error to design earrings with unique beauty and durability. Various materials and patterns were created, and models of different sizes were tested to find the optimal combination. Prototypes were shown to friends to gather feedback, which helped finalize the design. Through this process, it was learned that patterns and structure significantly impact the durability and beauty of the design. This design combines humor, artistry, and comfort.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration for this project came from the intricate beauty of marine life, specifically shrimp. I was motivated by the challenge of capturing the delicate and translucent nature of shrimp using traditional embroidery techniques. The design also incorporates elements of origami, adding a unique structural dimension. Research into marine biology and textile manipulation provided the foundation for creating a piece that is both visually striking and technically innovative.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Sayuka Tanaka, Shrimps earrings, 2024.
Image #2: Photographer Sayuka Tanaka, Shrimps earrings, 2024.
Image #3: Photographer Terukazu Sugino, Shrimps earrings, 2024.
Image #4: Photographer Sayuka Tanaka, Shrimps earrings, 2024.
Image #5: Photographer Sayuka Tanaka, Shrimps earrings, 2024.
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