Most fashion pieces aim to make you look pretty, but then there are those that are there to make a statement. Such is Akiko Shinzato’s jewelry. Serving as “self-confidence boosters,” her latest series is worn to lift your chin and change your body posture.
“This collection is a little bit ironic and shows Japanese inflexible education in a way,” said the Japanise designer in an interview with wertn. “Although it looks like boosting and helping your confidence, the piece actually limits the body movements and forces you to be in a particular position.”
“It was made for an exhibition of art teachers in Okinawa,” she explained. “The theme of the exhibition was ‘school’, so I wanted to make something related to Japanese education. Japanese people are usually shy and humble. I think it’s because we have a uniform education.”
“I think jewelry is an interesting medium because it’s worn on a body,” she added. “In my jeweler practice, I try to explore how a piece of jewelry can interact with human body and am always looking for new functions and new ways of wearing it. It’s exciting for me to create a piece of jewelry that can highlight and celebrate a part of your body which you never thought could be a piece of jewelry.”
Check out some of her unique creations in the gallery below.
