Barnett The Label...

I’ve come across something beautiful, a little dark, a little bit different and more importantly its accessories I can add to my ever growing skull collection... Yes ladies and gents I think I have found a duo who loves skulls as much as I do? Who are these amazing people you say? Meet Kate & Bridget the team behind the magnificent skull jewellery label; Barnett Jewellery

I found these girls on twitter... Well actually they found me and I thought I’d check out their label I was absolutely gobsmacked at what I had stumbled upon... Chunky chains in nickel, silver and gold, raw crystals and tassels. Most importantly so many skulls! So I emailed the girls to see if I could find more about the label as I couldn’t find too much online besides their beautiful blog! So this is what they had to share!

The Voodoo tassels are a fave of mine in the Head Hunter Collection

Who are the girls behind the label, are you Sisters? Or a working relationship made in heaven?Sisters! It’s not a match made in heaven but most of the time we see eye to eye. We've recently decided that if we both can't agree on a design we shouldn't run with it.

 

 

Tell us about Barnett Jewellery, the meaning behind the name and more importantly why Jewellery?Barnett Jewellery is a statement jewellery label by Hong Kong based sisters Kate and Bridget Barnett. We create pieces that we want to wear basically!

What was the process to begin your own label?

It was a really natural process. It started a few years ago when Kate couldn’t find anything to wear, so draped lots of chains over a basic black look. Comments started coming in, stylist friends started borrowed them for shoots and people started to enquire about how to buy them.

 

 

When was Barnett Jewellery Born?

It was probably 2007 when we started to get into jewellery for ourselves and friends, and 2008 when we started gaining stockists.

 

 

Most of your pieces feature Skulls is this just a feature for your current Head Hunter collection or will it be something permanent throughout most of your designs?

We have used skulls since the beginning, but not in every piece. Although if there isn’t a skull there is normally some kind of twist, we want each piece to feel like our brand.

Why skulls in the first place?

Good question! I think it’s because our wardrobes are really eclectic, mixing a lot of prints and colours, and we like accessories that can contrast and toughen us up a little.

 

 

Can you tell us a little bit about the design process, Do you have a warehouse? Is it done at home?The samples and special one-off pieces are made at our studio. We have previously done some off-shore the production, but the quality is better when we do it ourselves!

Do either of you have a background in jewellery design or design in general? Or are you both are passionate about this and it’s a learning process as you go?

No formal jewellery training! It’s been a learning process, and a lot of trial and error, but we are finally working out the materials and construction that’s strong and will wear without compromising the design.

What inspires your designs and what inspires you in day today life?

At the moment we have really been inspired by the surf trend, but I think it's more a way of life rather than a trend for us we are Sunshine Coast girls. We are also inspired by street style, magazines, blogs, runway– particularly resort collections.

Where can we find your pieces online?

Check out styles at www.barneybarnett.blogspot.com and make a personal order through barnettthebrand@gmail.com

Finally what’s next for Barnett Jewellery and Bridget& Kate?

We are feeling a little older and more refined this year and our next jewellery collection is likely to reflect that - although we will always keep a humorous element to it. That’s really important to us. We are both also working on individual projects, including Bridget’s contributions to creative website Lost E Minor and Kate’s ongoing freelance work in illustration and print and pattern design.

 

 

The Barnett pieces have featured in numerous editorials, so you should check out the blog for more of their designs... You can also check out both Kate’s & Bridget’s other design projects that occasionally pop up on the blog also!

(Bridget - Part one of the team of Barnett Jewellery)

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