Designed to evoke confidence and in particular, a 'powerful female energy', Seattle-based designer Faris Du Graf quickly found a devoted following for her bold, sculptural jewellery line simply named, Faris.
Working primarily with precious and semi-precious metals, the designer describes her molten, fashion-driven offerings as ‘experimentation in fluid, organic shapes and kinetic movement.’ Each painstakingly handmade piece is like an individually moulded sculpture, subtly echoing the design references that have influenced Du Graf on her path to becoming one of contemporary jewellery’s most promising young talents.
‘Both of my parents worked at Knoll in the 80s. So our home growing up was filled with Eames, Aalto, Mies, Meier and Breuer samples. ‘The modernist aesthetic was something I grew up with, so I’m sure that translates in my designs’, Du Graff says of her influences. ‘More than anything I am a fan of good architecture and design. I get excited with innovative construction and clever silhouettes. When thinking up something new, I reach for both, she says.
It’s little wonder then, that her career began in architecture and furniture design, working with Design Within Reach founder Rob Forbes before finding her true metier after taking night classes in jewellery making that eventually lead her to London to refine her skills at Central St Martins. The undulating, moulded metal curves of Du Graf’s designs indeed recall the lines of Isamu Noguchi and the strong lines and restrained use of colour nod to Le Corbusier, both of whom she name-checks as her favourite designers of all time.
Grouping her designs by idea or ‘series’, rather than the seasonal collections of her contemporaries, Du Graf, continually adds to existing collections, only occasionally introducing a new one altogether. ‘I don’t like the idea that design expires’, she explains. ‘I hope that everything I make is viewed as timeless.’
Du Graf has in fact now found a permanent home for her jewellery, joining forces with fellow Seattle designers, the womenswear label, Silvae, and specialty books purveyor, Pacific Standard, in their just-opened, shared and designer-owned retail space Rizom.
Du Graf looks to architecture and design for her sculpted handmade pieces. Pictured: 'Sway' earrings
'Lure' silver necklace; and large 'Pendo' drop earrings. Du Graf continually adds to existing collections, only occasionally introducing a new design
'Lure' earrings; and 'Link' silver necklace. 'More than anything I am a fan of good architecture and design. I get excited with innovative construction and clever silhouette', says Du Graf
INFORMATION
For more information, visit Faris du Graf’s website
-
At Design Miami Paris, an artful menagerie tells a story of scent and natureVikram Goyal and Sissel Tolaas present ‘The Soul Garden’ at Design Miami Paris (until 26 October 2025), ‘a contemporary fable where the animals take new forms, reimagined for the world we live in today’
-
Check in at Aman Rosa Alpina, a modern Alpine cocoonSan Cassiano’s historic hotel has been reborn as a pared-back Aman refuge in the heart of the Dolomites
-
‘It’s really the workplace of the future’: inside JPMorganChase’s new Foster + Partners-designed HQThe bronze-clad skyscraper at 270 Park Avenue is filled with imaginative engineering and amenities alike. Here’s a look inside
-
Art takes London: Tiffany & Co, Damien Hirst and artists take over Selfridges' windowsFour British contemporary artists celebrate Tiffany & Co's pioneering history with a series of storied window displays
-
All smiles: How a grillz jewellery making class in London became an international hitWhat started as a passion project quickly exploded in popularity. We get the story behind the grillz-making workshop at Cockpit London
-
Emerging jewellery designers to get to knowThese independent, new and emerging jewellery designers and brands from New York to Paris are firmly on our radar
-
Playing it cool: pearls are having a momentWe've been deep-diving into boutiques around the world to find the very best calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form. It seems jewellers have been busy rethinking pearls, with contemporary (and often affordable) results
-
Eternity rings for the modern coupleEternity rings, whether sleekly minimalist or sprinkled in diamonds, can be a chic and contemporary love token
-
CryptoPunks come to life on Tiffany & Co pendantsTiffany & Co has partnered with blockchain infrastructure company Chain to create custom pendants and NFTiffs
-
Order of the day: Pomellato’s high jewellery takes us from dawn to duskPomellato’s new high jewellery collection, La Gioia, tells the story of a day in precious stones
-
Anklets welded onto the body make romantic and enduring jewellery tokensAtelier VM’s ‘L’Essenziale’ jewellery collection now includes slender gold anklets
