Indigenous tribes influence Canadian jewelry label

Few jewelry designers can create strong visual pieces without some formal training and internships to develop and hone their craft. Usually, they studied at a prestigious art school and perhaps worked with a respected designer before they got their big break.

Melissa Clemente had none of these advantages  only the influence of and support from her artistic family  but her unique hybrid of designs says otherwise. 

With their intricate details and flawless craftsmanship, Clemente’s pieces possess a maturity evident in her use of unexpected materials that are organic to her Filipino roots. Setting up shop in Toronto where her company aims to “broaden Canada’s perception of what’s fashionable,” Clemente’s out-of-the-box ideas have earned her the reputation of creating pieces out of unconventional materials: wood, glass baubles, feathers, fabric appliqués, oversized brass fixtures and chains. She describes her work as maximalist to the extreme; confidence is key to pulling off the pieces, which she describes as more than just accessories.

Her spring 2010 collection “Epoch” shows her love for local flavor, with the accessories inspired by indigenous costumes of Filipino tribes from Ifugao and Maranaw. Clemente also drew inspiration from the tribes’ innovative use of natural materials and resources, as well as the bold colors of their cloths. Deep reds, black, yellow with traces of white and green dominate the color palette. Scales, flowers, wood, feathers, leaves and woven fabric patterns are paired with mesh chains and a mixture of metallic embellishments to complement the pieces.

Clemente’s current collection, showcased here, has a similar vibe. Mixing materials like beads, gold mesh, feathers and leather produced pieces that are as eccentric as they are exotic  truly great pieces of art.