MALAIKA SHELLS: LIVING SHAPES by Carola Allemandi

MALAIKA SHELLS: LIVING SHAPES by Carola Allemandi

Malaika e il suo “guscio di conchiglia naturale” nascono da una sensazione vivida: quando anni fa mi sono trovata a sentire le onde sonore rimbalzare più volte facendo vibrare l’aria, dando maggiore intensità a rumori altrimenti impercettibili. Questa immagine sonora mi accompagna dalla nascita e questa commistione di sensi ha dato inizio a tutto. Nonostante il brand Malaika si sia da subito specializzato anche nell’ambito Moda, il gioiello rimane la sua radice originaria ed è per questo che si è voluto pensare a una campagna dedicata per creare un immaginario attraverso gli scatti che lo potessero raccontare.

La conchiglia rappresenta l’anima del progetto Malaika. E’ un oggetto versatile, unico, unisex, artigianale ed eterno, da indossare non solo come collana o monile, ma anche abbinato a foulards, borse, portachiavi. L’idea di Malaika è poter unire arte, tradizione e influenze dei paesi nei quali ho vissuto (Costa d’Avorio, Indonesia, Stati Uniti, Italia) per creare un gioiello-accessorio originale ed innovativo. La montatura, che può essere in Oro 18kt o Argento nudo 925’/, può anche diventare galvanizzato giallo, rosa o nero su richiesta.

Le parole chiave che compongono l’universo creativo di Malaika sono novità, unicità, artigianalità: è l’insieme di culture, l’unione attraverso la diversità di una vita vissuta in vari continenti.

Così, per realizzare una campagna per le conchiglie Malaika, ho pensato a una collaborazione con la fotografa torinese Carola Allemandi, la quale aveva realizzato precedentemente un lavoro sul nudo che mi aveva colpita e che pensavo potesse essere la chiave per interpretare le conchiglie.

Si è così iniziato, insieme, a intendere l’accessorio non soltanto come oggetto da indossare, bensì come qualcosa che possa vivere in un contesto proprio e raccontare una storia differente.

Per questo, prima di cominciare gli scatti, l’idea di unire le conchiglie incastonate nei gioielli al tema del nudo, è sembrata la più consona per poterli incorniciare, interpretare e trasportare in una loro dimensione naturale.

Attraverso le immagini si è cercato così di ricostruire idealmente lo scenario originario da cui le conchiglie-gioiello possono essere state tratte e portate fino a noi.

E’ così che, grazie al nudo, le conchiglie appaiono “trovate” addosso a quella che potrebbe essere una creatura acquatica, e al contempo possono prendere, da un’immagine all’altra, la forma di uno scoglio a cui le stesse sono rimaste attaccate, trascinate dalle onde.

Il corpo nudo, in questi scatti, non è una modella, non è soltanto una donna come non è un elemento passivo che si ritrova a indossare un oggetto raro e prezioso: è un volume, è una forma, è un movimento che negli scatti si congela per restituirsi di volta in volta trasformato, dando così ai gioielli una visione che cambia con le sue metamorfosi, e per questo sempre viva.

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Malaika and her “natural shell” were born from an intense and vivid sensation: when years ago I found myself hearing sound waves bounce over and over making the air vibrate, giving greater power to otherwise imperceptible and usually defined as inaudible noises. This sound image has accompanied me since birth and this mingling of senses started it all. Although Malaika immediately made its way into the fashion sector as well, the jewel remains its original root and this is why we thought of a dedicated campaign to create an imaginary shot through these photographs.

The shell represents the soul of the brand Malaika. It is a unisex, unique, versatile, handcrafted and everlasting object, to be worn not only as a traditional necklace, but also combined with scarves, bags / pochettes, key rings; as a classy and fashionable accessory or simply an addition to anyone’s wardrobe. Malaika’s idea is to be able to combine art, tradition and influences as well as backgrounds of the countries I have lived in (Ivory Coast, Indonesia, United States, Italy) to create an authentic and innovative jewel. The setting, which can be in mounted in 18kt Gold or 925’/…Silver, can also be galvanized yellow, pink or black upon request.

The keywords that make up the creative universe of Malaika are novelty, uniqueness, high-quality craftsmanship: it is the combination of cultures, the union through the diversity of a life lived on various continents.

Hence, to create a campaign for Malaika shells, I thought of collaborating with the incredible Turin photographer Carola Allemandi, who had previously done a work on the nude that utterly struck me and for which I thought could be an additional key to interpreting my shells.

Thus we began, together, to understand the accessory not only as an object only meant to be worn, but as something that could live in its own context and tell a different story.

For this reason, before starting the shots, the idea of merging the natural shells set as jewels with the theme of the nude seemed the most appropriate to be able to frame, interpret and transport them in their natural dimension.

In fact, through these images we have tried to ideally reconstruct the original scenario from which the shell-jewels may have been drawn and brought to us.

This is how, thanks to the nude, the shells appear as “found” on what could be an aquatic creature, where at the same time they can take, from one image to another, the shape of a rock on which they have remained attached, dragged by the waves.

The naked body, in these shots, is not a model, it is not just a woman, nor is a passive element who finds herself wearing a rare and precious object: it’s a volume, it’s a shape, it’s a movement frozen in the shots but to return transformed each time, thus giving the jewels a vision that changes with its metamorphoses, and for this reason is always alive.

A post-pandemic prelude to the summer

A post-pandemic prelude to the summer

“A post-pandemic prelude to the summer”

Malaika’s very first Still Life shooting of the Shell Jewelry…

The idea behind these pictures is to set the scene and the summer mood and take you away into a journey of brilliance. Especially when some of the shells were worn by Beatrice, young model.

Candid shots were taken to take you away from this “gap year” full of uncertainties, definitely unmasked giving out that sense of wholeness.

DESCRIPTION
  • Natural shells picked up on the Adriatic Sea.
  • Hand-worked setting around each shell without using glue.
  • Innovative technique, in silver925°/…
  • Each piece is unique, but most of all available upon request in Silver925; pink and yellow plating as well as black Rodhium, Gold 18carat and more.

Commission your own by contacting us and we will try to meet all your wishes…

Get more information

All Malaika final sales are handled by the designer herself.
Write an email directly to barbaraebbli@malaika.biz

Value means everything to Barbara and because of it, she is here to help you through your purchase as well as answer all your questions. Update you on the number of pieces available, the detail information of the products you are interested in and last but not least the price and delivery.

Be artistically inspired and allow Barbara to remove all doubts in completing your order.
It is worth the difference!

    Name*
    Phone
    Email*
    Your Message*



    Still Life: Shell Jewels

    Still Life: Shell Jewels

    Still Life: Shell Jewels

    Malaika’s second Still Life shooting of the Shell Jewelry…

    This time, I wanted to emphasize on the Autumn colors as well as on the assortment of shells, plated in yellow, pink and black.
    In this particular shooting, I decided to use different leathers, with different treatments as well as colors.
    In some other cases, I used antique Indonesian molds to connect and highlight the artisan-made work of expert hands. As the Setting is a frame mounted around the natural shell without using any glue but simply following nature’s curves, the mastery behind these unique pieces lies on the experience and the skill of the artisan himself. One must be skilled at holding the shell without shattering it and yet working to support and to surround it with pure finesse.
    The outcome is captivating and mesmerizing….

    Description
    • Natural shells picked up on the Adriatic Sea.
    • Hand-worked setting around each shell without using glue.
    • Innovative technique, in silver925°/…
    • Each piece is unique, but most of all available upon request in Silver925; pink and yellow plating as well as black Rodhium, Gold 18carat and more.

    In these photos, the shells have been paired with scrap leather hides in the background as well as Indonesian vintage molds.

    Commission your own by contacting us and we will try to meet all your wishes…

    Get more information

    All Malaika final sales are handled by the designer herself.
    Write an email directly to barbaraebbli@malaika.biz

    Value means everything to Barbara and because of it, she is here to help you through your purchase as well as answer all your questions. Update you on the number of pieces available, the detail information of the products you are interested in and last but not least the price and delivery.

    Be artistically inspired and allow Barbara to remove all doubts in completing your order.
    It is worth the difference!

      Name*
      Phone
      Email*
      Your Message*