Mania Mania has always had a cult following around the world, thanks in large part to their use of quartz crystals in their bold designs. Fittingly for Spring/Summer 2014 they have taken inspiration from the Italian 1977 cult horror film Suspira for their ad campaign, bringing out the gothic princess in their model, Julia Restoin Roitfeld.
Shot by Bjorn Iooss with set design by Anna Karlin, the model, mother, blogger and daughter of former French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld has to be one of the most notable faces in fashion to front the young Australian jewllery label. She joins a host of notables who have modelled for the jewellery designers – Dree Hemingway, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Ruby Jean Wilson and Lyndsy Wixon.
Entitled Obscura, the S/S 2014 collection is named from the Latin word Obscuritas, meaning darkness & obscurity, Obscura draws on the haunting visual masterpiece of the film to inform the theatrical and poignant direction for the season. Introducing Lapis Lazuli for the first time in their collections, the gem recalls the Blue Iris door handle Suzy turns exposing a sinister coven midritual, unravelling the evil happenings of the past term.
Founders Melanie Kamsler and Tamila Purvis show off their talent for designing bold statement pieces, the design team at Mania Mani have created adornments they imagine that female protagonist Suzy would wear, the pieces also mirror the French Noveau and Art Deco architecture of ballet academy in which the story is set. The dance school’s foreboding archways are summoned by The Long Arch Ring while angular crystal shapes and the use of square and triangular pyramids echo stained glass ceilings and windows.
Mystery and magic prevail as the moon symbology of the Eclipse choker and Umbra and Ephemera rings echo the supernatural setting of Suspiria. Tassel pieces and tusk shapes infuse a 70s influence. Unnervingly mesmerising, Obscura lays bare a malevolent picture of beauty.
Credit for MANIAMANIA Obscura campaign
PHOTOGRAPHER: BJORN IOOSS (JED ROOT)
MODEL: JULIA RESTOIN ROITFELD (IMG)
SET DESIGN: ANNA KARLIN
MAKEUP: SAM ADDINGTON (KRAMER&KRAMER)
HAIR: SHIN ARIMA (FRANK REPS)
