Thai Designers Draw Inspiration from Tradition, Heritage for Jewelry Contest

Fresh. Exciting. Innovative. 

 

These are just a few words used to describe the nearly 300 designs submitted to the “Create Your Own Legacy” jewelry design challenge hosted by GIA in Bangkok. 

 

The contest, which opened mid-2013, encouraged designers of all experience levels to be inspired by the cultural legacy of Thailand. The result? A bounty of jewelry sketches inspired by native flowers, mangrove trees and other symbols of Thailand as varied as the designers who created them – from college students and jewelry enthusiasts to jewelry professionals.    

 

The five-month process – organized to commemorate the 20-year anniversary of GIA in Bangkok – was an opportunity for Thai designers to showcase their talent, expand their gemological knowledge and work alongside prominent jewelry companies Beauty Gems, Blue River, Fadamas, Mouawad and Sette. The finalists were also awarded prizes and scholarships for GIA design, gemology and jewelry programs. The first place designer earned a scholarship for the on-campus Graduate Gemologist program and a trip to the Hong Kong International Jewellery and Gem Show in March 2014. 
 

“The Bangkok community has been a gracious and hospitable host to GIA for 20 years. This contest was an opportunity to give something back to the jewelry industry here,” said Kenneth Scarratt, GIA managing director of South East Asia and director of the laboratory in Bangkok. 

 

Entries were reviewed by a panel of judges that included industry experts and respected members of the community. The group selected 21 designers to advance to the next step of the contest: an intensive gemological workshop at the Bangkok campus specifically created to further develop the participants’ knowledge of diamonds and gemstones, as well as to strengthen their design capabilities.  

Finalist Songsak Sirimartpornchai of Bangkok, a jewelry designer with more than 18 years of experience, said the workshop helped him learn more about the types of gems to select for his jewelry pieces. “I will use the knowledge I learned in this class for future designs as well,” he said.  

 

Once they completed the workshop, the designers were asked to either develop their original work further or submit a new sketch for the next round of judging, taking care to incorporate colored gemstones in their designs.  

 

Another finalist, Sutattar Chanrungrojne, from Ayutthaya, Thailand, designed a necklace, cuff and earring set inspired by a practical baking tool. 

 

“People often find inspiration from beautiful objects, but I wanted to think differently,” she said. “Banana leaves, which don’t always look appealing, are very useful in the traditional Thai way of life. They are often used for baking food and desserts instead of tinfoil or parchment papers.” 

Her sketch, which features vibrant green gems, was chosen as one of the top five designs. 

 

The five finalists had the opportunity to work directly with jewelry companies to manufacture their designs into finished pieces that were then reviewed by the judging panel. The winner’s designs were announced at a presentation ceremony at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center in late 2013.   

 

The first place winner, Nattawat Srinoon, of Nakhon sri thammarat, Thailand, designed pieces inspired by traditional Thai textiles. His jewelry, titled “You Clothe Me,” represents the history and legacy of Thai culture. A student majoring in jewelry design at Silpakorn University, he plans to further his studies in fashion design after completing the Graduate Gemologist diploma.
 

“I believe that jewelry and fashion are inseparable,” he said.

 

He said it is rare to find jewelry contests specifically targeted to Thai designers, especially ones supported by leading jewelry companies. “I learned a lot from the intensive gemological workshop, and also gained more experience in manufacturing by working with the jewelry companies.”     

 

But it wasn’t only the contestants who benefitted from the event. 

 

“Contestants had the opportunity to have their designs reviewed by industry professionals and design experts and each contestant gained experience to move forward in their gem and jewelry career,” GIA’s Scarratt said. “But the participating jewelry companies also had a great opportunity to work with new talent and be inspired by the creative designs.”