Touching materials & tricking the eye
WWAKE is best known for its delicate fine jewelry, but designer Wing Yau is returning to her roots in sculpture with the launch of CLOSER BY WWAKE, a sterling silver sister brand that features expressive statement jewelry.
By manipulating metal into unexpected forms, CLOSER BY WWAKE highlights the allure of simple materials and encourages one to explore through touch. Each piece is not cast, but is instead artistically formed and folded by hand from flat silver sheets. All pieces are constructed in New York in small, made-to-order, batches using recycled sterling silver.
Whereas WWAKE fine jewelry is seen as an exercise in simple design, CLOSER BY WWAKE is focused on capturing bold shapes and the artistic gesture behind each piece.
Wing Yau has a degree in Sculpture from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and started WWAKE in 2012 as a means to merge her passion for art with the intimacy of jewelry. She has since been recognized as a FORBES 30 UNDER 30 winner and a finalist in the CFDA X LEXUS FASHION* INITIATIVE. Her jewelry has been featured by major publications and worn by celebrities such as Rihanna, Emma Watson, and Cate Blanchett.
Recognitions:
2016 FORBES 30 UNDER 30 - Arts & Style
2015 Finalist - CFDA X LEXUS FASHION* INITIATIVE
2014 Design Entrepreneurs New York City (DENYC) Class Member
