How Summer’s Must-Have Beaded Bracelet Has Been Reimagined By Fashion’s Finest
Ready-to-wear designers LoveShackFancy, Loretta Caponi and Agua by Agua Bendita have collaborated with Carolina Bucci on an exclusive NET-A-PORTER capsule of gemstone beaded bracelets that exude summer spirit. By CHARLIE BOYD
Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the most genius of all. In 2018, wrists were all over Instagram, with high-profile models such as Hailey Bieber and cult micro-influencers including Vogue Japan editor Carlotta Oddi sporting rainbow-colored, candy-like bracelets that were individually curated with beads hewn from natural gemstones, strung upon humble yarn. The designer behind them? Carolina Bucci – the Italian wonder who hails from four generations of fine-jewelry experts. Bucci has a remarkable talent for creating effortlessly contemporary jewels with global appeal and still crafts each and every piece from her workshop in Florence.
Several years on, Bucci’s ‘Forte’ bead designs are world famous, sported for their casual yet luxe appeal as the ultimate high-low jewel. Each of Bucci’s stores now flaunts giant glass candy jars filled to the brim with technicolor beads, ready to be threaded onto bracelets and necklaces however you choose. Bucci originally conceived the beads to create a precious version of the brightly colored orbs and twines that she and her sons would tie around their wrists to mark the first day of their summer vacation, only snipped off the night before school began in the fall. It was a family tradition that became a shorthand for embracing the spirit of summer.
Now, Bucci has decided to explore that original summer inspiration further, inviting three ready-to-wear designers to create their own summer-inspired designs exclusively for NET-A-PORTER.
“This year, I wanted to celebrate the birthday of ‘Forte’ beads by welcoming other brands to play with combinations of our colorful semi-precious stones,” explains Bucci. “When I compiled my wish list of designers to take part in this collaboration, I had an aesthetic of sunshine and femininity in mind, and so these designers almost picked themselves,” she adds. “It was also important that the brands came from a spread of locations: from my hometown in Florence, from New York and from Medellin, Colombia – they are all female-led and place emphasis on the importance of craft.”
Discover the ready-to-wear designers behind the collaboration, as we explore the inspirations behind these vibrant beaded medleys.
“Bucci has decided to explore her original summer inspiration further, inviting three ready-to-wear designers to create their own summer-inspired designs exclusively for NET-A-PORTER
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Rebecca Hessel Cohen, founder of LoveShackFancy
“The inspiration for this bracelet came from summer sunsets in the Hamptons – choosing the gemstones to reflect those colors was so much fun. My summer jewelry style is ‘more is more’; I love stacking tons of bracelets and necklaces, and they are always getting tangled around my neck. Summer to me is being barefoot in the sunshine and dancing in sundresses, so the bracelet was designed to embody all those things. Designing this piece brought me so much joy – I imagined it being worn every day and never taken off. The color palette goes with all of our LoveShackFancy dresses and pretty much anything in your closet, so you will never get sick of it. The bracelet particularly complements many designs from our Heritage collection, which was designed to deliver keystone pieces that will stay in your closet forever, much like precious jewels.”
Guido Conti Caponi, chief operating officer of Loretta Caponi
“The inspiration behind the Loretta Caponi ‘Forte’ bracelet was the rich and vibrant colors of the four seasons in Florence: the yellow of the fields parched by summer sun on the Florentine hills, the green of the meadows at Parco delle Cascine during springtime, and the red of the winter berry roses at Giardino delle Rose next to Piazzale Michelangelo. The purple is the color of irises – a symbol of Florence – and the orange echoes the autumn leaves on the sidewalks all along Viale dei Colli, which brings the wearer to our home and atelier.”
Catalina Alvarez and Mariana Hinestroza, co-founders of Agua by Agua Bendita
“Every piece Agua by Agua Bendita designs is inspired by nature, so with the ‘Forte’ bead collaboration we wanted to use softer tones from the natural world. The verdant green of tropical forests and Colombian emeralds was paired with soft pink from the flowers and the mushrooms that grow in tree trunks, while the baby blue came from the abundant springs in our region. The white beads were inspired by the rainforest’s cloudy sky, while the tiger’s eye beads, with its deep, mixed tones of brown and yellow, represents the land, the coconuts, and the animals. We envisioned these colors being worn with kaleidoscopic prints for summer. But once fall arrives, the bracelet could also be paired with a black turtleneck to bring some extra joy to your day.”
SHOP CAROLINA BUCCI
52 items
The model featured in this story is not associated with NET-A-PORTER and does not endorse it or the products shown