When the dust settles: Ephemeral jewellery collection inspired by decay

The designer collected dust from abandoned farms in the Icelandic countryside, and then sifted and sorted it before gluing it to the jewellery pieces using a biological adhesive. Eventually, the dust will disintegrate leaving behind the metal framework.

Sveinsdóttir was inspired by Flemish vanitas still-life art of the 16th and 17th centuries – paintings with recurring motifs such as skulls and rotten fruit, which contemplated the transient nature of life. 'In this world, everything existing is linked to the process of birth, decay and disappearance,' she says. 'The Dust collection is a reminder of the transience of all earthly pursuits and how it can be a motive for design.'

In her collection, dust is transformed from a nuisance to a resource with value. In our forthcoming Autumn/Winter Trend Briefing, we will examine how notions of value and worth are shifting. For more information, see our Eventbrite page.