By Marja Rönty
The new Damselfly ‘I hate myself for loving you’ body jewellery and accessories collection spins toxic relationships into leather and other bad-girl materials like chains, feathers and antique silver-plated metals guaranteed to fly off the shelves and send shivers down boyfriends’ backs.
The designs range from silver-stud-embellished neckplates, leather vests dangling with silver chains, to shrugs topped with feathered wings that ooze attitude and sexy self-confidence – not to mention a pair of chain-draped ankle boots to walk all over those guitar-swinging rock star types.
Christianna Heideman, the Melbourne-based designer behind Damselfly, has an equally rebellious take on things: she is basically self-taught, with a Silversmith diploma and a short love affair with a deferred Fine Arts degree.
Undeterred to follow her passion, Heideman established Damselfly jewellery range in 2000 to quick international acclaim. Today, her dripping pendants, cuffs and rings frequently adorn the limbs of Miranda Kerr, Gwen Stefani and Kate Bosworth and up the ante of fashion week luminaries like Lisa Ho and Zimmermann.
An urban, nomadic rock-chic chick not unlike her designs, Heideman is inspired by “anything from a song, a piece of artwork, travel or people-watching” and she loves the cutting-edge fashion of Balmain, Ellery and Rodarte that is much reflected in her fearless designs.
“To make a living doing something I love is a dream come true,” she says about her success. “Otherwise, what’s the point?”
Damselfly is available at selected boutiques nationally. For more info, please visit www.damselfly.com.au
