World-famous jewelry designer Kathleen Nowak Tucci will show her work this weekend at the Caffery Gallery, which will include eco-friendly pieces made from recycled rubber-tire inner tubes.
The event will showcase Tucci’s designs, and attendees can purchase some of the styles, Margaret Nowak Dobos, co-founder of My Sister’s Art, said in an e-mail to The Daily Reveille.
“It is a trunk show … 65 pieces will be displayed at the event,” Dobos said.
The free exhibit of Tucci’s jewelry will be on display at Caffery Gallery Oct. 7-9.
Tucci makes “green” jewelry that looks stylish but is still affordable, Dobos said.
“Our jewelry retails for between $50 and $2,000,” Dobos said. “Eco-friendly products … have become mainstream for this generation.”
The exhibit appeals to students because of the way “green” ideas have creeped into everyday fashion, said Mary Ann Caffery, event hostess and Caffery Gallery owner.
“I think especially design students should come and see what you can do with recyclables,” Caffery said. “The possibilities are limitless.”
Dobos said recycling materials is the main difference between how regular and eco-friendly jewelry is made.
“Our jewelry is handmade in the USA, without machinery, using the energy of the body,” Dobos said. “Our materials would have otherwise been discarded.”
Tucci’s designs were recently published on the cover of “Vogue Italia.”
“Words can’t express how thrilling it was for ‘Vogue Italia’ to identify Kathleen’s jewelry as something extraordinary,” Dobos said. “I was extremely excited that Kathleen had finally garnered the international recognition merited by her extraordinary artistic talent.”
When she heard about the “Vogue Italia” cover, Caffery immediately called Dobos to see if Tucci could bring her jewelry to Baton Rouge for a trunk show.
Tucci has painted, sculpted and utilized other art forms.
“I have been an artist for over 25 years,” Tucci said. “The recycled rubber is a relatively new medium I have been experimenting with for the last eight months.”
Dobos believes the dramatic aspect of the jewelry is what attracts consumers to it.
“Kathleen designs pieces that are statements of art — beautiful, comfortable … with almost no weight,” Dobos said.
There are many benefits to eco-friendly fashion, according to Lisa McRoberts, assistant professor of the School of Human Ecology.
“The actual fabrics are different from the regularly manufactured fabrics,” McRoberts said. “The dyes used are less harmful because there are not as many harmful chemicals.”
“Green” fashion is starting to catch on nationally, McRoberts said.
“I came back from New York Fashion Week, and many designers are using eco-friendly techniques,” McRoberts said. “The colors are more neutral so that consumers can use the clothes throughout the year. People can use less and buy less.”
Since living “green” is becoming trendy in all facets of life, people are learning to reuse materials and give them a new purpose, Caffery said.
“People are beginning to see that if you just keep throwing everything away it will just keep piling up,” Caffery said. “Repurposing things is a very smart thing to do, and it’s very logical, too.”