Lorette Colé Duprat – fashion designer with provocative jewelry pieces
Lorette Colé Duprat is a French artist and jewelry designer based in Paris who fuses sex appeal with a utilitarian aesthetic in each of the pieces she creates by hand in her atelier.
The first jewelry piece we saw from her, was in a partnership done with a famous french website related to adult content, in a work called Film Porno Gratuit. Watching it, instantly invaded us with sensuality and sex appeal that can transport us directly to some wild thoughts.
From inserts formed through curved methacrylate units, which cleverly alter the way clothing can be worn, to multi-functional body harnesses and chokers woven from metal ball bearings, Lorette’s pieces are as varied as they come.
After studying at the Design Academy Eindhoven and graduating two years ago, Duprat ended up in the world of jewellery by chance:
“While studying I learned to experiment with different materials, in particular metals, ceramics and plastics,” she explains.
“For my final diploma, we had to develop two projects, and one of mine focused on accessories and how you can use them to change existing items in your wardrobe and make something new out of a single garment.”
It was after graduating that she further honed her craft working for fashion designer Esteban Cortázar. The progress was dizzying and within a year and a half she was collaborating with the prestigious Thierry Mugler. The sensuality of her work is undeniable and she confesses that hardware stores are her great source of inspiration.
“I spend my life there!” she says, laughing. “It’s my passion. I’m inspired by screws and other shapes that are functional and not decorative.” In addition to frequent visits to DIY shops, Duprat often makes research trips to Bibliothèque Forney, near his home in Paris.
Innovation is key to the Lorette Colé Duprat label and her tubular inserts made of methacrylate are multifunctional, allowing up to five different combinations that can be used on blouses, skirts, shirts, bags or alone.
“I love to touch, to bend, to warm up,” the artist states emphatically.
“I really like to feel my work. And the truth is that these principles are evident in her designs.”
The same rule applies to necklaces and other body pieces designed in copper-plated beads.
“The idea is that you can wear a garment as a necklace, but also as a belt, or you can wrap them in multiples around your leg or put them in your handbag. It’s not meant to be jewelry that only exists as one thing. I think it’s nice to have one piece that you pay a certain amount for, but this object can be used in many different ways.
Nowadays it is very important to think in this way in design.
She also believes that her work can be bought as sculpture to adorn the home, not just the body.
“I like every object to have a purpose, so even if it’s not on the human body, it can look just as good on the mantelpiece”.