From designing costumes to jewelry, Vann Kwok continues to embrace artistic and unique statement pieces, crafted by hand.
The creative journey of Kwok, who was born and raised in Hong Kong, began with a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design from Polytechnic University. "I've known since I was really young that I would work in the creative field, since there are craftsmen and designers in my family," said Kwok.
She had never thought of designing jewelry as she was a costume designer before. "While I was still working as a costume designer, there were a lot of concerts. And there was a need for the singers to be dressed more avant-garde," she recalled. "We ended up elevating their outfits in line with the stage."
Kwok then went to London for a master's degree in Fashion Artefact from London College of Fashion. "At first, I wanted to focus on crafting headpieces, but I ended up spending more time learning about metalwork -- I also designed and made sculptural pieces," she said.
Her studies in London led to the creation of the contemporary jewelry collection Out of Flux, which earned her prestigious accolades such as the ITS Jewellery Prize in Italy and the Jewellery Award from the Arts Foundation, UK. "The material side of the project is inspired by Gaetano Pesce. I used mostly resin but when it comes to establishing my own brand, there are a lot of underlying constraints of using it - so I returned to using metal instead."
She also happened to work with renowned designers like Vivienne Westwood and Hussein Chalayan in London. The avant-garde perspective is evident in her designs.
Kwok also shares a background of being a freelance fashion stylist and costume designer in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, and her diverse experiences continue to inspire her work at Vann. "After I returned to Hong Kong, I found that the most challenging task, was learning about business operations."
A jewelry brand founded in 2019, Vann embodies vibrancy, boldness, and wonder. The brand combines innovative 3D designs and hand-fabrication techniques to craft unique handmade jewelry.
"My designs capture a moment frozen in time. I prefer to relinquish control and allow the materials to guide the process. I appreciate seeing the imprints, marks, and the touch of human hands on the pieces. It's a form of communication between myself as the creator and the audience." She added: "I appreciate the philosophy of wabi-sabi [a Japanese philosophy centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection]. The handcrafted jewelry is raw and I don't necessarily try to smooth the edge or perfect them. I think the rawness and the moment that it's made already captured the best condition and shape that it serves the wearer."
The handcrafted jewelry represents an idea materialized but resists being confined to specific categorizations.
"The shapes of my designs evoke both the world we know and the one waiting to be explored," Kwok said.
(The Standard | Yolanda Kei)
