Nadine Ghosn Revamps the Crayola Crayons With Gold and Diamonds
LONDON — Jewelry designer Nadine Ghosn is a child at heart — so naturally, she’s released a collaboration with crayon-maker Crayola.
She’s taken the classically colorful crayons and turned them into bracelets and rings where both ends meet, but don’t touch, as if a child has bent the crayons. These crayons are strictly for adults, given their price points, ranging from 6,400 pounds to 18,950 pounds for an 18-karat white gold bracelet with white agate diamonds made in Italy.
More from WWD
EXCLUSIVE: Sunlight Creates Love Note Projections In New Fred Jewelry Collection
Jia-Jia Zhu Bets on Pearls With the Launch of New Jewelry Brand
EXCLUSIVE: Tiffany & Co. Reveals Campaign for Pharrell Williams' 'Titan' Jewelry Collection
“I am very punctual and was waiting for a friend I was having a lunch date with who was running late. I looked to my side and a kid was given crayons and a placemat to color in, and I decided I wanted to do the same instead of scrolling through Instagram. I kept the crayons and decided to doodle on the plane,” Ghosn said in an interview, recalling her eureka moment.
The wax crayons brought back memories of her childhood, where she was a very creative kid.
It took Ghosn a year to convince Crayola to collaborate on the project and it’s the first of a kind for the art supplier that’s often found in nurseries and homes rather than at Dover Street Market, where Ghosn is currently stocked.
Their mutual love of colors was what cemented the relationship between the two brands. The partnership will continue for two years.
“Working with big companies, naturally things move at their own pace and approval takes time,” said Ghosn, who wanted to quickly launch the collection at the face pace she’s used to as an independent designer.
It took many iterations and stone testing for her to come up with the design. She took the prototypes of the jewelry everywhere with her, from the supermarket to the swimming pool, where people would point out and comment on the crayon inspiration.
The bracelets and rings are wrapped in a rose gold enamel to imitate the wrappers around Crayola crayons, or black enamel, with the option of customization on the side.
“I already have mothers who want the name of their kids on their wrist in their favorite color. It is cool to see the collection take shape and meaning with my clients,” Ghosn said.
At times of political unrest in the world, she’s finding jewelry as a means of connecting.
“Jewelry is not a necessity, it’s an emotion — it is important to find moments of joy and connection. Fun and play are integral to my everyday life and I like to share it in my way with the world and remind us of our shared humanity,” explained Ghosn.
“This collection is bold and powerful in its mission to remind us of the child within. It might not be for everyone, but it definitely doesn’t go unnoticed,” she added.
Best of WWD
