De.Cou.Page Necklace Photo by Mi from True-North Photography
BangelibangDesign is a new brand created in Brighton by a Scandinavian designer called Lena. She is very happy to present the models of her new collection: De.Cou.Page. The only way for you to imagine what it’s like is to take the necklace and roll it between your hands, so you can read between the lines the story of BangelibangDesign or the story of your life.
Lena considers herself as a storyteller, this is why you shouldn’t be surprised if you ever find a hidden message in one of her creations. Her jewels have a strong visual effect but they have a second quality, they must be touched, only then you will know what it’s like to hold a secret in your hands. The truth is that these jewels are made of “recycled materials…old pearls, glass beads from 1940’s, Bakelite, leather and plastic…semi-precious stones from India dismantled necklaces from fleamarkets, or treasures from the medina in Marrakech”.
Like a magician, she puts all her ingredients on the kitchen table when she gets home and makes a simple stone a diamond. Lena likes to create “something unique, sometimes colorful, sometimes monochrome…but almost always bold and it becomes either a necklace, earring or a bracelet. I want my pieces to become an indie-chic vibe timeless sophistication”. The word is said “sophistication”, these De.Cou.Page models made of simple materials are sophisticated. This successful result is due to an old French technique “that is using pictures, graphics, newspapers…texts…to create your story, your message. It is printed on special paper, then it needs to soak up a bit in the water, a slap of decoupage glue on the back and then the work of layering starts.” After up to several days of drying process, Lena seals the beads with a protective lacquer and there you are, wearing all the secrets of the world around your neck with a smiley face. You are a James bond girl, or even better, a Bangelibang girl!
“In this De.Cou.Page necklace I have used big bold, wooden beads, that has a mixture of decoupage from Perfume labels from the 1930’s and my own graphics” says Lena who also added some cold and warm colors that she likes to mix. Hence gold colored leather strings to create “a look that is not “perfect””.
If you want to hold your own story, don’t wait and back the beads. Join Lena on her blog: www.bangelibangdesign.blogspot.com
There she will tell you why she likes her job:
“People always like a story. It makes them feel at home. Like they belong.
Written by Nadia Bacha
