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Style File: Sarah Cotterall from Silk & Steel

Designer Sarah Cotterall of Silk&Steel.

Sarah Cotterall founded her stunning jewellery label, Silk&Steel, in 2009 to create her own style of luxury statement jewellery that blends vintage and contemporary influences with eye-catching results. Her jewellery is handmade by Sarah and her team and has been seen on some of New Zealand’s most stylish and influential women, as well as at New Zealand Fashion Week complementing the collections of Trelise Cooper. Silk&Steel is now stocked throughout New Zealand and Sarah has started exporting to Australia while expanding her range of collections.

We caught up with Sarah to find out more about her latest collection, what inspires her and what you would never catch her wearing!

Tell us about your latest collection:
We are in the process of launching our two new limited collections for Spring and Summer 16/17. Metallic Fate – 1st September and Wild Heart – 1st November. Both collections are quite different but both carry a similar thread which allows the wearer to mix styles across the two ranges.

Metallic Fate is a collection of versatile boho-rock pieces, handmade here in New Zealand and designed to be mixed and matched, layered and stacked giving their wearer endless opportunities to style and wear pieces their own way! Pieces are buildable and designed to fit seamlessly into an existing Silk&Steel collection. This season, we have juxtaposed our signature spikes with fine chains and beautiful gemstones – such as Rose Quartz and Smokey Quartz (which also feature in our Wild Heart collection). These beautiful gems not only look stunning but also have wonderful healing properties too! We’ve also added fine body chains, metallic leather chokers as well as bold statement body harnesses – each piece working together to create individual styles for the wearer.

Wild Heart is a limited-edition, every day luxury jewellery collection with an edgy-chic twist and a touch of bohemian-luxe. This contemporary collection has been inspired by nature’s raw yet delicate forms. Each piece is handmade from sterling silver and 18k gold plated and incorporates beautifully faceted gemstones. Designs are bold yet delicate, sophisticated yet relaxed and as with all Silk&Steel collections, “Wild Heart” has been designed so pieces can be layered together or worn solo. It’s such a beautiful collection!

Silk&Steel is about versatility and uniqueness and our ear jackets have been designed so the wearer can mix and match with different gemstone studs and also wear as mismatch earrings – e.g. Smokey quartz with Rose Quartz, for summer sophistication. Spinel with Rose Quartz, for feminine-edgy-chic. Ear jacket in one ear and stud in the other.  Rings look fab stacked together, mixing stones and metals to create luxury statements for fingers. We’ve also created shoulder sweeping threaded earrings for maximum edgy-luxe impact, which we predict will become a hot seller!

What made you become a designer?
From a very young age I loved fashion and jewellery – from finding vintage pieces to creating my own designs. I’ve always loved creating unique looks and having my own signature style. I absolutely knew that one day I would work in the fashion industry and would create my own brand – it’s been a lifelong ambition and passion!

What inspires you?
I am inspired by so many wonderful things – from friends and strangers, to nature and architecture, as well as vintage styles. I’m also inspired by interesting gemstones and materials and the organic process of design. Quality inspires me – I love luxury and longevity, handmade creations, unique constructions and unconventional designs.

Campaign image from Silk&Steel’s new Metallic Fate collection.

Describe your personal style and how it influences your brand?
I would say my personal style depends on the occasion, destination or how I feel on the day! Generally, my style is a little edgy yet feminine. I love juxtaposition and mixing things up. Maybe leather trousers with a sheer silk top. Or skinny ripped jeans with a cashmere sweater and heels. I like to keep things simple and then add jewellery to complete the look. If I’m going out I would wear bolder, statement jewellery but during the day I tend to wear finer layered pieces. My personal style is an absolute reflection of Silk&Steel – from mixing spikes with luxurious gemstones to customising the way I wear pieces to create a unique style. I also love versatility and one of my favourite pieces is our New Beginnings necklace. It can be worn in 10 different ways – including as a belt and bracelet! Silk&Steel is about being unique, focusing on quality and empowering our customers to wear pieces their own way. I’m not one to follow the crowd or trends.

What is your all-time favourite purchase?
My husband and I adore art and one of my favourite pieces is a Piera McArthur painting, which is so vibrant and fun it makes me smile every time I look at it!  And, I absolutely love all the collectable vintage jewellery I’ve purchased over the years, many of which I have turned into new creations!!

What wardrobe item should every woman invest in?
Of course, I’m going to say accessories! Jewellery is so important as it can transform the simplest outfit in to something spectacular.

Do you have a style rule you always obey?
Know your style and what suits you. Don’t just follow trends – stay true to yourself and buy quality not quantity.

Pieces from Silk&Steel’s upcoming Wild Heart collection.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?
There have been so many highlights! It’s impossible to say just one! From the start, seeing Silk&Steel in fashion publications has always so humbling and also the catalyst that helped grow Silk&Steel in to the brand that it is today. I’m so incredibly grateful to the wonderful support from New Zealand fashion stylists and media – amazing!

I love working on collaborations with amazing New Zealand fashion designers such as Yvonne Bennetti (whom I work with on a regular basis on collections and shows) as well as with Trelise Cooper – which was an incredible experience! Seeing Silk&Steel Couture pieces on the runway at New Zealand Fashion Week and the reactions they receive is always such a huge highlight, especially as they are all handmade by myself like pieces of art and a true labour of love!

Another wow moment was when Ellie Goulding visited our gorgeous stockist Staple and Cloth on Ponsonby Rd a few years ago and purchased a heap of Silk&Steel jewellery and was then seen wearing it on social media!

When Gin Wigmore wore our “Bridging the Gap” necklace to the Vodafone Music Awards last year and won Best Solo Female Artist, that was amazing to watch! Since then she’s been rocking Silk&Steel jewellery on tour which is such a buzz to see.

And, of course seeing Silk&Steel being worn and enjoyed by our wonderful loyal customers is always super rewarding! I absolutely love hearing from our customers and seeing them enjoy Silk&Steel – that’s what it’s all about!’.

What can’t you live without?
Can’t live without my wonderful family and friends. They inspire and support me and make me laugh on a daily basis!

Finish this sentence – You would never catch me wearing…
Doc Marten boots. I’ve been there, done that many moons ago! Not one of my best fashion moves but I customised them to make them unique and they were cool at the time!

Images supplied.