You might think the brightly colored shapes of Donna Kato’s millefiori necklace almost look good enough to eat, like candy, but think again. The intricately shaped and decorated pieces are actually formed from polymer clay.
An artist and instructor, Kato creates all kinds of jewelry from different materials, but is especially adept at molding and shaping clay into rings, watches and sculptural items.
As Donna explained to Trend Hunter, instead of using paint, she uses millefiori, many colors of clay.
Kato’s pins sport witty sayings which would certainly be great conversation starters.
See more designs and other mediums at Kato’s website, and if you want to expand your crafting skills, instructional DVDs are available.
Candy-Colored Clay Jewelry
Bright Accessories That Look Good Enough to Eat
Trend Themes
1. Polymer Clay Jewelry - The trend of creating intricately shaped and brightly colored jewelry from polymer clay presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in the art and crafts industry, particularly in the development of new and eco-friendly materials.
2. Handmade Accessories - The trend of creating unique and personalized handmade accessories, such as those made by Donna Kato, provides opportunities for disruptive innovation in the jewelry and fashion industries, particularly in the areas of customization and sustainable production.
3. Millefiori Technique - The trend of using the millefiori technique, which involves using many colors of clay, presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in the art and crafts industry, particularly in the application of this technique in other materials or for new product designs.
Industry Implications
1. Jewelry - The jewelry industry could explore the use of polymer clay and the millefiori technique to create unique and sustainable accessories that are both affordable and eco-friendly.
2. Fashion - The fashion industry could incorporate handmade and personalized accessories, such as those made by Donna Kato, into collections to offer consumers more unique and sustainable options.
3. Arts and Crafts - The arts and crafts industry could embrace the millefiori technique and the use of polymer clay to provide consumers with new and innovative materials for creative expression, leading to disruptive innovation in the industry.